Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian meets Lady Sala, who is pregnant but seems to have a supernatural being in her womb.
• Fu Qian senses a strong warning and curiosity about the unborn child.
• Sala feels Fu Qian's gaze and engages in a professional exchange, but Fu Qian shifts the topic to her pregnancy.
• Fu Qian's Sanity Value drops as he senses the unborn child's presence.
• Sala experiences pain and distress, and the unborn child reacts to her emotions.
• Fu Qian tries to gather information about the child's father and Sala's history with the church.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows curiosity and caution about the unborn child, uses his professional skills to interact with Sala, and demonstrates empathy towards her situation.
• Lady Sala: Struggles with her memories and emotions, experiences pain and distress, and reveals her belief in a "great God" as the child's father.

Significant Themes

• The unknown and potentially dangerous nature of the unborn child.
• The struggle between professional detachment and empathy in Fu Qian's interactions with Sala.
• The theme of motherhood and Sala's desire for her child to have a father.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Lady Sala: Fu Qian uses his professional skills to interact with Sala, trying to gather information while also showing empathy. Sala struggles with her memories and emotions, revealing her beliefs and experiences to Fu Qian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian confronts the Bride, Lady Sala, who enters a frenzied state, revealing a monstrous form and supernatural powers.
• Fu Qian confirms that Sala's condition is influenced by a growing supernatural entity within her, not just dark influence.
• Sala attacks Fu Qian, who dodges and counterattacks, causing her to crash through a wall.
• Sala returns, unharmed, and Fu Qian engages her in conversation, trying to understand the entity within her.
• Sala reveals that the entity was bestowed upon her in a dream by a great existence, and she believes it to be her child.
• Sala cuts open her abdomen, seemingly removing the entity, and cradles an infant that isn't physically present.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his strength and combat skills, as well as his patience and cunning in dealing with Sala.
• Lady Sala's mental state deteriorates, and she reveals more about the entity within her, showing both fear and affection towards it.

Significant Themes

• The influence of dark forces and supernatural entities on individuals.
• The theme of motherhood and the bond between a mother and her child, even when the child is not physically present.
• The power dynamics between different existences and the consequences of interacting with them.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Lady Sala's interaction is tense, with Fu Qian trying to understand Sala's condition and Sala reacting with aggression and fear.
• Sala interacts with the entity within her, showing both fear and affection, and ultimately removing it from her body.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian continues his investigation, finding that everyone he's encountered has hidden aspects.
• He concludes that Sala's unborn child is not the "Bitter Fruit," as the mission hasn't failed.
• Fu Qian provokes a Higher Being's power and hatred towards him to aid in his mission.
• He interacts with Sala, who is now fully immersed in her delusion of being a mother, and leaves without pushing her further.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian remains analytical and strategic, manipulating situations to his advantage.
• Sala's mental state has deteriorated further; she's now fully convinced she's a mother and sings lullabies to her non-existent child.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Hidden Truths: Everyone Fu Qian meets has secrets, and the truth is elusive.
• Mental Instability and Delusion: Sala's mental state continues to decline, leading her to believe in a false reality.
• Manipulation and Strategy: Fu Qian uses his intelligence and cunning to navigate complex situations.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with Sala, playing along with her delusion to gather information and manipulate the situation.
• Sala, in her deluded state, interacts with Fu Qian as if he's a visitor admiring her child.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian encounters an old lady searching for her lost husband in the dark.
• The old lady reveals that she and her husband were going to the church but got separated in the dark.
• She believes the church is safe and her husband went out to check the situation while she hid in an empty house.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: He shows empathy and patience in listening to the old lady's story, indicating his growth in understanding and compassion.
• Old Lady: She displays determination and devotion to her faith, venturing out into the dangerous night to search for her husband.

Significant Themes

• Faith and Belief: The old lady's unwavering faith in the church's safety contrasts with the general fear of the night and the unknown.
• Trust and Sacrifice: The old lady's husband sacrifices his safety to check the situation, showing trust in his wife's judgment.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Old Lady: They have a heart-to-heart conversation in the dark, with Fu Qian acting as a patient listener, allowing the old lady to express her concerns and fears.
• The Old Lady and her Husband: Their relationship is one of mutual trust and support, with the husband willing to face the dangers of the night to protect his wife.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian discovers the old Lady's secret but doesn't expose it.
• Fu Qian lies about hearing a child's crying sound to manipulate the old Lady into helping him.
• The old Lady agrees to guide Fu Qian to find a young man he's looking for.
• The old Lady reveals that many people have disappeared from Akons, with half vanishing one day and the rest decreasing each night.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows cunning and manipulation, using deception to gain the old Lady's help.
• Old Lady: Reveals her desperation in finding her missing husband, shows kindness by helping Fu Qian despite her own troubles.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Fu Qian uses lies to achieve his goals.
• Desperation and obsession: The old Lady's single-minded pursuit of her husband.
• Fear and uncertainty: The atmosphere in Akons, with people disappearing and strange occurrences.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Old Lady: Fu Qian manipulates the old Lady into helping him, showing no regard for her well-being or the truth.
• The old Lady and Akons: The old Lady's desperation to find her husband contrasts with the eerie atmosphere in Akons, where people are disappearing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian arrives at an old woman's house, who recognizes the place but doesn't recognize Fu Qian despite his Outsider appearance.
• The old woman lights a lantern for Fu Qian before leaving, revealing she knows about Outsiders but prefers not to use the name 'Akons'.
• Fu Qian visits a crestfallen brother, who doesn't respond to his knocking. He senses a high-ranking Holy Artifact (sword) in the brother's house.

Character Developments

• The old woman shows kindness and caution towards Fu Qian, revealing she knows about Outsiders but prefers not to discuss 'Akons'.
• Fu Qian demonstrates curiosity and patience, not rushing to reveal his identity and asking about the name 'Akons'.

Significant Themes

• The name 'Akons' is no longer favored, suggesting a shift in beliefs and attitudes post-Akons' decline.
• The old woman's reaction to Fu Qian's Outsider identity hints at the special nature of this place and its residents.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the old woman, who shows concern for his injuries and gives him a lantern before leaving.
• Fu Qian attempts to interact with the crestfallen brother, but the brother doesn't respond, indicating his emotional state.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian, an outsider, arrives at the drooping head brother's place, seeking an item.
• The brother, initially indifferent, opens the door after Fu Qian's persuasive words.
• Fu Qian reveals that he knows about the brother's possession of a powerful sword, a gift from a deity.
• The brother recounts how he obtained the sword after digging it out of a coal seam that was bleeding.

Character Developments

• The drooping head brother, initially despondent and indifferent, shows signs of life and engagement when Fu Qian arrives.
• Fu Qian demonstrates his persuasive skills and knowledge of the supernatural world.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of supernatural gifts.
• The brother's reluctance to accept his gift, despite its power.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the drooping head brother interact, with Fu Qian trying to persuade the brother to give up the sword.
• The brother shares his traumatic experience of obtaining the sword with Fu Qian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian visits the Head-Down Bro, who recounts his experiences with a supernatural sword that causes fear and darkness.
• Fu Qian takes the sword, and dawn breaks, ending the darkness.
• Fu Qian leaves, satisfied with his gain and the sword's origin story.
• He plans to meet the physician and prepare for their meeting by collecting supernatural souvenirs.

Character Developments

• The Head-Down Bro is relieved to be rid of the sword and its associated darkness.
• Fu Qian shows patience and strategic thinking, valuing the sword's story as much as its power.

Significant Themes

• The power of storytelling and its impact on perception and value.
• The importance of patience and preparation in achieving goals.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the Head-Down Bro, showing understanding and mockery.
• Fu Qian plans to meet the physician, suggesting a potential alliance or information exchange.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian visits Doctor Dorian's clinic, presenting a doll and a sword as gifts.
• Dorian, intrigued, offers his medical services to Fu Qian.
• Fu Qian deliberately cuts his arm to show Dorian his 'condition', simulating symptoms of a curse.
• Dorian allows Fu Qian into his clinic, expressing concern about his serious condition.

Character Developments

• Dorian: Shows interest in Fu Qian's items, displays professional concern for Fu Qian's health, and seems to have a soft heart despite his initial aloofness.
• Fu Qian: Continues to deceive and manipulate Dorian, revealing more about his past actions that could have caused his current 'condition'.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Fu Qian continues to deceive Dorian, using his 'condition' to gain his trust and access to his clinic.
• The consequences of actions: Fu Qian's past actions, such as beating up pregnant women, may be causing his current 'curse'.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Dorian: Fu Qian manipulates Dorian into offering him medical help, while Dorian, driven by his professional ethics, shows genuine concern for Fu Qian's health.
• Fu Qian and various townspeople: Fu Qian mentions meeting kind people in town, including Xilaliya and an old woman, who helped him in some way, possibly to build credibility with Dorian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian visits Dorian, the healer, seeking treatment for his unusual condition.
• Fu Qian offers Xilaliya's Doll as payment, knowing it will pique Dorian's interest and suspicion.
• Dorian agrees to treat Fu Qian, expecting a challenging case.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows cunning and strategic thinking, deliberately revealing his abnormalities to provoke Dorian's reaction.
• Dorian: Confident in his medical skills, accepts Fu Qian's challenge despite suspecting his true intentions.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Fu Qian uses his condition and a Doll to manipulate Dorian into treating him.
• Confidence vs. caution: Dorian's confidence in his medical skills leads him to accept Fu Qian's challenge, despite his suspicions.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Dorian: Engage in a tense, unspoken exchange, each with their own agenda. Fu Qian provokes Dorian, while Dorian accepts the challenge, setting the stage for a complex treatment process.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian discovers that Dorian made two identical dolls, one of which is with him, suggesting that Fu Qian's interactions with the natives have no lasting effect on them.
• Fu Qian contemplates the possibility of visiting the natives again and finding them unchanged, indicating that he can't influence their reality.
• Dorian offers Fu Qian a potion to help him sleep and access his dreams, but Fu Qian refuses, revealing his own dream-manipulating abilities.
• Dorian attempts to guide Fu Qian into a dream using a doll, and Fu Qian willingly enters.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian becomes increasingly aware of the limitations of his influence on the natives and their reality, leading to frustration and a need to find a solution.
• Dorian demonstrates his expertise in dream manipulation, using a doll to guide Fu Qian into a dream state.

Significant Themes

• The inability to change or influence the natives and their reality is a central theme, highlighting Fu Qian's frustration and the need for a solution.
• The exploration of dreams and dream manipulation is another significant theme, with both Fu Qian and Dorian displaying their abilities in this area.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Dorian's interaction is marked by mutual respect and understanding, with each acknowledging the other's expertise in dream manipulation.
• Fu Qian's refusal to drink Dorian's potion and his willingness to enter the dream through the doll show a level of trust and cooperation between them.
• Fu Qian's internal monologue reveals his thoughts and observations about Dorian's abilities and his own situation, providing insight into his character and mindset.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian enters Dorian's Healing Dreamscape, finding himself in a scene with Xilaliya, who is exiled beneath the Church.
• He discovers that Dorian's participation in the dreamscape is through Dolls he creates, which reflect different aspects of the original owner's personality.
• Fu Qian encounters two Xilaliya Dolls, one seductive and aggressive (Xilaliya II), the other warm and inviting (Xilaliya I). They argue, with Xilaliya II committing an act of Blasphemy against Akons.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his ability to analyze and deduce the nature of the dreamscape and the Dolls.
• Dorian's method of participating in the dreamscape through Dolls is revealed, showing his manipulation and control.
• Xilaliya's dual personality is reflected in the Dolls, with Xilaliya II displaying a darker, more aggressive side.

Significant Themes

• The power of dreamscapes and their manipulation.
• The reflection of personality in the dreamscape and its inhabitants.
• The consequences of Blasphemy against Akons.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with both Xilaliya Dolls, observing their differences and the argument between them.
• The interaction between the two Xilaliya Dolls highlights their contrasting personalities and the tension between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian observes two manifestations of Xilaliya, representing her past and present mental states, engaged in a heated debate.
• The debate revolves around Xilaliya's faith and the purpose of her persistence.
• Fu Qian, the target of their attention, remains unmoved and uninvolved.
• The debate escalates into a physical altercation, with both Xilaliyas attempting to embrace Fu Qian simultaneously.
• The embrace intensifies an intoxicating fragrance, which cleanses Fu Qian's heart of negative emotions and enhances his perception.

Character Developments

• Xilaliya I represents her past self, a desperate defender of her faith despite its crumbling.
• Xilaliya II represents her evolved self, filled with nihilistic faith and considerable attack power.
• Fu Qian remains unmoved and stern, refusing to be easily swayed by the events unfolding before him.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between faith and doubt.
• The power of persuasion and debate.
• The influence of the environment on one's mental state.

Character Interactions

• Xilaliya I and Xilaliya II engage in a heated debate, reflecting Xilaliya's internal struggle.
• Fu Qian interacts with both manifestations of Xilaliya, remaining stern and unyielding despite their attempts to sway him.
• Fu Qian's Willpower is affected by the intoxicating fragrance, but he resists its influence, showing his resilience and self-control.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian is embraced by two Xilaliya Dolls (Xi I and Xi II), which intensifies the intoxicating fragrance and pleasure, suppressing the Transcendental crying.
• Sala, dressed as a bride, appears and engages Fu Qian, attracted by the child's crying.
• Fu Qian tries to distract Sala by asking about the child's father, which agitates her.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian remains composed and strategic, using his situation to gather information and provoke reactions from the Dolls.
• Sala's radical behavior escalates, and she shows a unique perspective on the child's father, echoing Xilaliya's views on higher Existences.

Significant Themes

• The power of sincerity and honesty in provoking reactions (Fu Qian's interaction with Sala).
• The distortion of language and titles in representing higher Existences (Sala's views on the child's father).

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with Sala, using her concern for her child to distract and provoke her.
• Sala's interaction with Fu Qian is intense and emotional, reflecting her radical nature and unique perspective on the child's father.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sala's body rapidly expands and blocks the passage, attempting to trap Fu Qian.
• Fu Qian uses his Gospel Blast on Sala, causing her to cry out in pain and ultimately explode.
• Fu Qian ascends to the Church and finds an unfamiliar man with high cheekbones, sitting in a symmetrical position to the man in the felt hat.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his professionalism and adaptability in handling unexpected situations.
• Sala's actions reveal her desperation to prevent Fu Qian from proceeding.
• The unknown man in the Church shows signs of fear and tension.

Significant Themes

• The power of the Gospel and its limitations.
• The struggle between Fu Qian and the forces trying to stop him.
• The theme of duality and symmetry, as seen in the positioning of the unknown man.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Sala's interaction is hostile, with Sala trying to hinder Fu Qian and Fu Qian using his powers to overcome her.
• Fu Qian's interaction with the unknown man in the Church is implied to be tense, with the man showing signs of fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian, now with two identical faces on his arms (Sala and Xilaliya), returns to the Church.
• He reveals that Sala is still below and that he's brought Xilaliya up to cause a mental breakdown among the Church members.
• Fu Qian shoots the felt-hat man with a special bullet that causes him to disintegrate and attack the other Church members.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows understanding and patience in explaining his actions but remains ruthless in his execution.
• Felt-Hat Man: Reveals his fear and desperation as Fu Qian's true intentions become clear.
• Dorian's New Tool: Briefly appears and is quickly overwhelmed by the disintegrating felt-hat man.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and Control: Fu Qian manipulates the situation to cause chaos and fear among the Church members.
• Power and Vulnerability: The felt-hat man's power is no match for Fu Qian's, highlighting his vulnerability.
• Consequences of Isolation: The felt-hat man's extreme reaction to Fu Qian's appearance suggests the psychological toll of isolation.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Felt-Hat Man: Fu Qian toys with the felt-hat man's fears, ultimately leading to his demise.
• Fu Qian and Dorian's New Tool: Fu Qian's actions indirectly cause harm to Dorian's new tool.
• Church Members: The remaining members react with shock, fear, and madness to Fu Qian's revelations and the felt-hat man's disintegration.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Doctor Dorian's new tool person fails to manifest divine power and is assimilated by bugs.
• A tide of bugs threatens the remaining people in the Church, but an old woman uses a Gift potion to dissipate them.
• Fu Qian leaves the Church, expecting Dorian to attempt something desperate.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his lethality and determination to escape the dream.
• The old woman reveals her knowledge of a true name ("Skong'e") and uses it to activate her Gift potion.

Significant Themes

• Faith and its power: The old woman's knowledge of the true name allows her to use her Gift potion effectively.
• The dangers of dreams: Fu Qian faces threats from both Dorian's creations and the dream's inhabitants.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian acknowledges the old woman's help, expressing gratitude before leaving the Church.
• The old woman's actions hint at a deeper understanding of the dream's workings and its inhabitants.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dorian, desperate to induce the Outsider's appearance, uses a new tool to summon it. The tool is an ordinary man who fears the night, and he is instantly killed by insects.
• Fu Qian meets the Outsider in the Healing Dreamscape. The Outsider is humanoid, wearing a dark coat adorned with metal ornaments, and has a pale, featureless face. It wields a large, oily knife.
• The Outsider attacks Fu Qian, cutting him deeply, but Fu Qian's wound doesn't bleed or heal.

Character Developments

• Dorian becomes more desperate and manipulative in his attempts to treat Fu Qian.
• Fu Qian remains unyielding and curious, engaging the Outsider in conversation despite its hostility.

Significant Themes

• The existence and nature of the Outsider.
• The power dynamics between the Outsider and Fu Qian.
• The use of fear and manipulation as tools for control.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and the Outsider meet for the first time. Fu Qian attempts polite conversation, but the Outsider is unresponsive until it attacks Fu Qian again.
• Dorian's actions reveal his growing desperation and willingness to use others to manipulate Fu Qian.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Qian faces off against a Night Hunter, a powerful being with a fierce saber technique, but lacks high-Rank destructive means.
• Fu Qian kills Xilaliya II, the source of the intoxicating "Liberation" effect, making the Night Hunter's attacks less potent.
• Fu Qian uses his gun to wound the Night Hunter, provoking a transformation that increases its power and changes its weapon into a Butcher's Blade.
• The Night Hunter stabs itself with the broken blade, initiating another transformation, but unexpectedly turns to dust and disappears.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian demonstrates his strategic thinking and combat skills, using the gun to provoke the Night Hunter into transforming and revealing more of its abilities.
• The Night Hunter shows increased power and transformation abilities, but ultimately fails to defeat Fu Qian and disintegrates.

Significant Themes

• The theme of transformation and change is prominent, with the Night Hunter's physical form and abilities shifting in response to Fu Qian's actions and Dorian's influence.
• The power of will and determination is highlighted as Fu Qian remains undeterred by the Night Hunter's increasing strength.

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian interacts with the Night Hunter, using his gun and strategic thinking to provoke and counter its attacks.
• Dorian's influence is felt through the Night Hunter's transformations, indicating his involvement in controlling and strengthening the creature.
• Fu Qian's internal monologue reveals his thoughts and plans, providing insight into his character and strategies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The White-faced Man, an Outsider, dies without completing its transformation, disappointing Doctor Dorian.
• Fu Qian returns to Dorian's dreamscape, finding a new Doll and a decaying figure.
• Fu Qian learns that the decaying figure was an Outsider that Dorian turned into a disposable item to increase his power in the dream.

Character Developments

• Fu Qian: Shows no remorse for the White-faced Man's death and remains calm and inquisitive.
• Doctor Dorian: Accepts his fate, reveals his past, and expresses his disdain for his former faith.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of ambition and overreaching (White-faced Man's death, Dorian's transformation)
• The power of dreams and the subconscious (Dorian's ability to control dreams and observe Akons)
• The price of power (Dorian's use of Outsiders to increase his dream's strength)

Character Interactions

• Fu Qian and Doctor Dorian: Fu Qian interrogates Dorian, who cooperates, revealing his past and abilities.
• Doctor Dorian and the Outsiders: Dorian uses Outsiders to increase his power in his dream, turning them into disposable items.