Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Bai Jun crushes the Jade Omen after noticing a message, then deflects Qing Que’s questions. He discovers that the cat he was commissioned to find is perched on the Divination Bureau’s gate.
• Qing Que stops him from trying to knock the cat down with his sword. Bai Jun climbs up and captures it, calming it with catnip.
• Bai Jun explains that Fu Xuan only scolded him over their card game. Before leaving, he invites Qing Que to help him move house. She is thrilled—until she sees Fu Xuan waiting at the Bureau and realizes Bai Jun’s joking “death flags” may have been right.
• At the Department of Earthly Rulings, Bai Jun returns the cat to Songyan, who had been searching for it for a week. The cat scratches Songyan when he boasts that it cannot hurt him, but remains unusually affectionate toward Bai Jun and ignores its food.
• Jing Yan tells Bai Jun to return the cat to its owner and sends Songyan to handle paperwork. Bai Jun also asks for reimbursement for his broken Jade Omen and is promised a replacement.
• The owner, Elena, arrives to collect the cat, Little Eight. She is accompanied by Zhang Zhang, a strange white, trotter-like creature. Zhang Zhang launches itself into Bai Jun’s face, knocking him down.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Jun is resourceful and agile, improvising a cat-catching plan and preparing suitable food. He evades Qing Que’s questions about his Jade Omen but shows her warmth by inviting her to help with his move. The cat’s strong attachment to him recurs throughout the chapter.
• Qing Que is attentive to Bai Jun’s safety, eager to spend time with him, and excited by his invitation. Her cheerful mood collapses when she encounters Fu Xuan.
• Songyan is relieved to have the missing-cat search ended but tries to act tough around the animal; the cat quickly proves him wrong.
• Elena is anxious to recover Little Eight and apologizes profusely when Zhang Zhang injures Bai Jun.
• Fu Xuan and Jing Yan appear briefly as authority figures: Fu Xuan’s presence alarms Qing Que, while Jing Yan handles the office’s practical follow-up.

Significant themes

• Affection and attachment: Little Eight repeatedly seeks Bai Jun’s company, even preferring him to its food and owner’s reunion.
• Comic reversals: Bai Jun’s confident plans and observations are repeatedly undercut—most notably by Zhang Zhang’s unexpected flying kick.
• Care beneath teasing: Qing Que’s concern for Bai Jun’s hand and later excitement about helping him move reveal her affection, while Elena’s apology reflects her concern for both her pet and the person it hurt.

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun declines compensation for the swollen cheek Zhang Zhang gave him, and he and Elena exchange business cards. He learns that Zhang Zhang is Elena’s unusually affectionate, gemstone-eating Warp Trotter—and gets bitten several more times while trying to be friendly.
• Their conversation turns to pets. Elena, who keeps many animals, recommends that Bai Jun get some. He refuses because he fears outliving short-lived companions, then admits he is allergic to furry animals.
• After Elena leaves, Bai Jun receives his replacement Jade Omen. A message from “Silver Hacker” orders him to log on that night and threatens to expose his browsing history if he does not. Before he can deal with it, Jing Yan gives him a stack of work, forcing him to work overtime.
• On his exhausted walk home, Bai Jun spots a procession of Ten Lords Bureau attendants. He tries to avoid them, but Hanya suddenly appears and startles him. After they joke about the scare, she explains that she slipped away from work to talk with him.

Character developments

• Bai Jun shows a principled, generous side by refusing Elena’s offer of money, along with a wary sense of humor. His reluctance to keep pets reveals his fear of the grief that comes with outliving them. He also remains easily overwhelmed by work and the threat to his privacy.
• Elena is warm, earnest, and devoted to her pets. She becomes comfortable enough with Bai Jun to tease him, though Zhang Zhang’s biting complicates their friendly first meeting.
• Hanya appears exhausted and detached, but her unexpected visit suggests she values Bai Jun’s company. Her nervousness about being caught away from work contrasts with her usual solemn demeanor.

Significant themes

• Companionship and loss: Bai Jun questions whether bonds between long- and short-lived species are worth the eventual grief, while Elena sees pets as a source of everyday comfort.
• Work and exhaustion: Bai Jun’s overtime and Hanya’s desire to escape her duties highlight the burdens of institutional work.
• Isolation and social boundaries: Bai Jun keeps his distance from the Ten Lords Bureau, whose members are portrayed as separate from ordinary society, even as he personally knows Hanya.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun and Elena build an easy rapport through introductions, jokes, and discussion of pets, despite Zhang Zhang repeatedly biting him.
• Bai Jun is intimidated by Silver Hacker’s blackmail threat, then immediately pulled back into work by Jing Yan.
• Hanya startles Bai Jun during his walk home; they exchange teasing complaints before she draws close to keep their conversation quiet and asks why he is out so late.

Key plot points and events

• After a late-night conversation, Hanya reveals that Xue Yi’s puppet body has been destroyed for the fifth time this month while pursuing a Medicine King’s Legacy fugitive. She worries that continued damage could permanently harm her sister’s soul.
• Bai Jun recognizes the case as the lead he has been looking for. Though he initially leaves, he returns, puts his coat over Hanya’s shoulders, and tells her to guide him to the fugitive.
• At Liuyun Crossing, Bai Jun breaks into an illicit clinic hidden beneath an abandoned public restroom. There, the fugitive Zhan Guang is trying to sell a stolen, forbidden prescription that can restore Vidyadhara memories of past lives.
• Bai Jun fights through the black-market guards and confronts the physician running the operation. Zhan Guang escapes with a box of Xun Di, while Bai Jun quickly overpowers the physician and forces him to reveal the prescription’s whereabouts and information about the Medicine King’s Legacy.
• After Bai Jun leaves, Xue Yi arrives with the Ten Lords Bureau. Despite apparently needing to recuperate, she intends to help him.

Character developments

• Bai Jun shifts from tired and impatient to decisive and formidable once he connects Hanya’s news to his own investigation. His return with a coat also shows concern beneath his brusque manner.
• Hanya exposes her fear for Xue Yi and her loneliness, believing that people like her—who have left the realm of the living—cannot expect others to risk themselves for them. Bai Jun’s return offers unexpected reassurance.
• Xue Yi remains stubbornly committed to her assignment despite repeated destruction of her puppet body, highlighting both her courage and her disregard for the danger to her soul.
• Zhan Guang is desperate to escape the Luofu and bargains pragmatically, while the physician’s self-serving confidence collapses into panic when Bai Jun arrives.

Significant themes

• Duty versus self-preservation: Xue Yi’s relentless pursuit raises the cost of devotion to duty.
• Care beneath roughness: Bai Jun’s bluntness contrasts with his practical kindness toward Hanya and his willingness to act for her sister.
• The living and the dead: Hanya’s sense of isolation underscores the emotional burden of being separated from ordinary life.
• Corruption and survival: The black-market clinic, its profiteering physician, and the characters’ opportunistic choices show how fear and greed thrive around forbidden knowledge.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun teases and scolds Hanya, then listens seriously when she explains Xue Yi’s condition. His coat and return to help turn their exchange from banter into a gesture of support.
• The physician tries to exploit Zhan Guang’s urgency, while Zhan Guang sees through the scheme and attacks him before escaping.
• Bai Jun intimidates and interrogates the physician with overwhelming force, then passes the investigation to the Ten Lords Bureau.
• Xue Yi’s arrival prompts Hanya to protest that her sister should be recovering, reaffirming the sisters’ concern for one another.

Chapter 24 summary

• Bai Jun confronts Zhan Guang: After the other criminals are subdued, Bai Jun finds Zhan Guang—the gang’s ringleader—bound and alone on a rooftop. Zhan Guang refuses to surrender and attacks, but Bai Jun blocks his powerful broadsword strike with the case he carries, then knocks him back when he follows with a punch.
• Zhan Guang tries to escape: He flees across the rooftops, commandeers an automatonic bird and then a sightseeing starskiff. Bai Jun catches up by leaping onto the vessel. After Bai Jun cuts through Zhan Guang’s sword and warns him against taking the captain hostage, Zhan Guang swallows stolen medicine from the Medicine King’s Legacy.
• The fight escalates: The medicine transforms Zhan Guang into a huge, werewolf-like creature, granting him immense strength and rapid regeneration. Bai Jun recognizes the power of Abundance in the drug, along with wolf poison that threatens the innocent captain. He decides to end the fight quickly.
• Bai Jun draws on Primordial Suihuang: Addressing an unseen source, Bai Jun borrows its power and unleashes a fiery sword strike. The golden flames prevent Zhan Guang’s regenerative flesh from healing, and he realizes he is dying. Before losing consciousness, he expresses a wistful desire to see the moon over his home, Yaoqing, once more. Bai Jun identifies the blade’s power as Primordial Flame, or Primordial Suihuang, and closes Zhan Guang’s eyes after he dies.
• Xue Yi arrives: The adjudicator appears on the skiff after jumping between passing vessels. Bai Jun is surprised by her unusual method of travel and asks if she can pilot the ship. She says she can and takes the controls.
• The chapter ends on a comic mishap: Bai Jun rests, reflecting that using even a little of Suihuang’s power has left him exhausted. He then notices the starskiff is drifting away and sinking. Xue Yi insists she can pilot, despite the apparent evidence to the contrary.

Character development and interactions

• Bai Jun remains dismissive of Zhan Guang’s threats and unimpressed by his transformation, but grows serious once he recognizes the danger to the captain. He reveals the formidable, costly power of Primordial Suihuang and shows compassion by honoring Zhan Guang’s final moment.
• Zhan Guang shifts from defiance to desperation as his attempts to escape and overpower Bai Jun fail. His brief wish to see Yaoqing’s moon again hints at a lingering attachment to home beneath his violent, criminal life.
• Xue Yi remains cool and straightforward, but her blank reaction to finding the fight already over provides a lighter contrast to the battle. Her confidence as a pilot sets up the closing gag.
• Bai Jun and Xue Yi exchange teasing, awkward banter: he accidentally calls her “Xue-rio,” then quickly redirects her to the pilot’s seat. Their practical cooperation is immediately tested by the sinking skiff.

Significant themes

• Duty despite uncertain outcomes: The chapter opens with a reflection on continuing one’s work even when disaster may undo the effort, framing persistence as an acceptance of fate.
• Power and its price: Zhan Guang’s stolen medicine grants frightening strength but turns him into a dangerous, unstable creature; Bai Jun’s own borrowed power ends the fight but leaves him drained.
• Humanity beneath wrongdoing: Zhan Guang’s final longing for his homeland complicates his portrayal as a ruthless criminal, though it does not erase his crimes.
• A tonal contrast between violence and comedy: The deadly confrontation gives way to light banter and a slapstick ending, underscoring the story’s shifts between grim action and humor.

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun and Xue Yi are rescued after their starskiff falls into the Sea of Stars. Though shaken, Bai Jun worries more about Xue Yi’s repeatedly damaged mechanical body and confronts her for risking herself.
• Bai Jun warns that repeatedly transferring her soul between puppet bodies may eventually cause it to disappear. Xue Yi quietly agrees, then tenderly wipes dust from his face and smiles—an unusually warm moment between them. Bai Jun offers to make her better arm guards.
• Xue Yi’s junior, Huo Huo, arrives with the underworld attendants. She is shy and accident-prone, and shares her body with “Tail,” a powerful Suiyang sealed onto her fox tail. Tail recognizes the Primordial Suihuang’s aura in Bai Jun, tests it by sniffing him, and enthusiastically offers to join his side. Huo Huo and Tail bicker constantly.
• Xue Yi sends Huo Huo to report to the Ten Lords Bureau. When she notices Bai Jun’s injured hand, she insists on examining him and starts undressing him. Hanya arrives and, despite Bai Jun’s desperate appeal, joins Xue Yi, leaving him overwhelmed.
• Back home, Bai Jun is too exhausted to sleep. He recalls how he encountered the Primordial Suihuang’s flame while studying weapon-forging on Zhuming. The experience left a remnant of the flame inside his soul.
• Bai Jun has since gained partial control of that remnant with the help of a demonic blade, and can use its power at the cost of his vitality. Expecting that cost again, he prepares to endure it—but instead feels soothing warmth and realizes something may have changed. He opens the “Noble Moral Acclaim” system interface.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Jun shows concern for Xue Yi’s safety and displays familiarity and affection toward her. His encounter with Tail also confirms that he carries the Suihuang’s aura. At home, he reflects on the dangerous power inside him and its limits.
• Xue Yi briefly reveals a more human, affectionate side through her smile and gentle touch. Her concern for Bai Jun soon turns into an overzealous physical examination, highlighting her blunt, unconventional manner.
• Huo Huo and Tail are established as reluctant, bickering partners: Huo Huo is timid and clumsy but sharp-tongued, while Tail is boastful, impulsive, and intrigued by Bai Jun.
• Hanya is caught between loyalty to her sister and concern for Bai Jun, but ultimately sides with Xue Yi during the chaotic examination.

Significant themes

• Care and self-preservation: Bai Jun urges Xue Yi to value her own life, while she treats duty and repeated damage as routine.
• Humanity and connection: Xue Yi’s smile and tender gesture suggest that emotion persists despite her mechanical body and belief that she should no longer feel.
• Power at a price: Bai Jun’s Suihuang abilities are useful but consume his vitality, leaving his future uncertain.
• Affection expressed through comedy: The characters’ concern for one another often emerges through teasing, bickering, and absurdly intrusive behavior.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun notices that the ability Favor of the Sun is glowing after he draws on the Sui Emperor’s power. Testing the connection with his longsword causes the Emperor’s power to surge through his body, strengthening his muscles and bones; Bai Jun cuts off the connection before it becomes more alarming.
• He suspects Favor of the Sun may be linked to stars, recalling that the Sui Emperor’s true form resembled a brilliant star. He plans to test the ability under a real star or return to the Forging Palace.
• Bai Jun responds to Silver Wolf’s repeated messages and logs into a game. His poor performance frustrates her, though she still likes having him as a support player. At home, Silver Wolf runs into Liuying, who shyly asks to play the same game with her.
• The next morning, Bai Jun hears that singer Guinaifen will perform on the Luofu and recognizes her album, though he has little time to dwell on it before work.
• At the Department of Earthly Rulings, Pure Ink dumps a large stack of paperwork on Bai Jun. Drawing on his former life’s office experience, he finishes it quickly and returns to idling.
• Elena contacts him through the Jade Omen, explaining that she wants to apologize properly because her piggy bank, Zhang Zhang, bit him before. Bai Jun agrees to dinner, partly to avoid the embarrassment of her appearing at his workplace with flowers.

Character developments

• Bai Jun grows more curious about Favor of the Sun and its connection to the Sui Emperor, while remaining cautious about the power’s physical effects. He also shows his familiar mix of practicality, laziness, and avoidance of awkward situations.
• Silver Wolf is revealed as an enthusiastic gamer who is both exasperated by Bai Jun’s terrible play and willing to keep him around as support.
• Liuying appears gentle and considerate, worrying about Silver Wolf’s cola habit. Her shy request to play suggests she wants to spend time with her.
• Elena proves persistent and earnest: she wants to make amends properly, even though Bai Jun considers the original incident minor.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun tests the Sui Emperor’s power through his longsword and discovers its strange connection to Favor of the Sun.
• Silver Wolf scolds Bai Jun during their game, then meets Liuying, whose teasing and concern lead to an affectionate, awkward exchange.
• Bai Jun and Elena reconnect by message. His casual acceptance of dinner surprises her, since she had expected to pursue the apology more dramatically.

Significant themes

• Power and discovery: Bai Jun is beginning to uncover how his abilities interact, but their full nature remains uncertain.
• Everyday life amid the extraordinary: Supernatural power and interstellar society sit alongside office paperwork, breakfast mishaps, gaming, and social obligations.
• Connection and companionship: Silver Wolf’s gaming, Liuying’s quiet approach, and Elena’s invitation all show characters seeking closeness, even when they express it awkwardly.

Chapter 27 Summary

Key plot points and events

• After Bai Jun agrees to Elena, Hanya messages him with an “urgent” request: her sister, Xue Yi, has earned half a day outside her usual existence, and Hanya wants Bai Jun to accompany her the next day.
• Hanya refuses to accept Bai Jun’s refusal. She even appears outside his window, making clear that he cannot evade the arrangement.
• At a tea house, Hanya persuades Bai Jun by implying that declining would mean he dislikes her sister. Bai Jun agrees, but when he asks where Xue Yi wants to go, Hanya decides they should scout date locations together.
• Their planning proves awkward. Bai Jun enthusiastically shops for vegetables, while Hanya insists Xue Yi would rather browse books or watch an illusion play—and points out that Xue Yi’s mechanical body cannot eat.
• Hanya lends Bai Jun her diary of things she has observed and tells him to use it if he runs out of conversation topics. She then takes him to a clothing store, where she insists he buy better outfits for the date.
• Bai Jun changes into stylish clothes and ties his hair back. His transformed appearance shocks Hanya and the saleswoman. He also notices that his “Sacred Judgment of Heavenly Fire” ability glows with unusual intensity, suggesting he may have discovered how to activate or use it.

Character developments

• Bai Jun remains reluctant and socially unpolished, but he ultimately agrees to spend time with Xue Yi. His practical, domestic tastes—especially his enthusiasm for grocery shopping—contrast with Hanya’s idea of romance. His makeover reveals a more striking, elegant appearance than he expected, and he begins to recognize a new possibility regarding his ability.
• Hanya is forceful and teasing, but her insistence comes from genuine concern for her sister. She wants Xue Yi to enjoy her rare time outside and trusts Bai Jun because of his past reliability in dangerous missions. She takes responsibility for planning the outing and preparing him for it.
• Xue Yi, though absent from most of the chapter, is shown through Hanya’s descriptions as quiet and cold-looking but fond of books and plays. Hanya is protective of her and wants her to have a pleasant day.

Character interactions

• Hanya repeatedly overrides Bai Jun’s objections, using guilt, humor, and sheer persistence to secure his cooperation.
• Bai Jun and Hanya’s outing becomes a comic clash between his practical instincts and her romantic expectations: he proposes a vegetable market, while she pushes for activities suited to Xue Yi.
• Hanya acts as both matchmaker and coach, lending Bai Jun her diary, choosing date locations, and steering him toward a more presentable look.
• Their banter and the tea-house patrons’ gossip make the supposed date-planning look like a date between Bai Jun and Hanya, much to Bai Jun’s embarrassment.

Significant themes

• Care expressed through meddling: Hanya’s pushiness is rooted in affection and a desire to give Xue Yi a meaningful day.
• Practicality versus romance: Bai Jun approaches the outing through everyday interests, while Hanya expects conventional date activities.
• Appearance and self-discovery: Bai Jun’s makeover changes how he sees himself and coincides with an unexpected reaction from his supernatural ability.
• Trust and reliability: Hanya’s confidence in Bai Jun comes from his dependable conduct during past missions with Xue Yi.

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun finishes changing into a stylish new outfit. The Foxkin shop clerk is instantly smitten, but he reacts to her advances with irritation and openly dismisses her.
• Hanya is also struck by Bai Jun’s changed appearance. Flustered by his attention, she buys all the clothes and treats them as payment for the previous night. She then takes him to the next stop on her planned itinerary.
• While waiting for Hanya to buy an orange, Bai Jun reads her diary and discovers that it is largely a record of work complaints and private thoughts.
• Sushang, now in her Cloud Cavalry uniform, runs into Bai Jun and enthusiastically admires his new look. They chat briefly: she proudly describes her new job and explains that she is helping deliver a box for a shopkeeper. Bai Jun admires her sincerity and encourages her, while gently teasing her frequent verbal mistakes.
• Tingyun arrives with cream dumplings for Bai Jun and sees him with Sushang. Her attraction turns to intense jealousy, though Sushang leaves before Tingyun can confront her.
• Hanya returns with an orange whose white strings she has carefully removed. Bai Jun quickly apologizes for complaining. Hanya asks who Sushang was, and he says she is a friend.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Jun enjoys his new appearance and seeks Hanya’s approval, but is uncomfortable with the attention it draws. He shows a softer, protective side toward Sushang, recognizing her earnestness despite her naïveté.
• Hanya is visibly affected by Bai Jun’s new look, though she tries to hide it. Her practical gestures—buying his clothes and preparing his orange—show care and familiarity.
• Sushang is eager and good-hearted in her new Cloud Cavalry role. Her direct admiration of Bai Jun and easy, friendly manner provoke Tingyun’s jealousy.
• Tingyun is openly infatuated with Bai Jun and becomes possessive when she sees him interacting warmly with Sushang.
• The chapter contrasts Bai Jun’s effect on several women: the clerk is captivated, Hanya is flustered, Sushang is openly enthusiastic, and Tingyun is jealous.

Significant themes

• Appearance and attraction: Bai Jun’s outfit changes his perceived aura and draws immediate attention.
• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Tingyun’s reaction hints at competition for Bai Jun’s affection.
• Care expressed through small actions: Hanya’s purchases and prepared orange convey affection more strongly than words.
• Sincerity and innocence: Sushang’s helpfulness and uncomplicated pride stand out to Bai Jun, who worries that her naïveté may leave her vulnerable.

Key plot points and events

• After shopping, Bai Jun and Hanya share oranges. Hanya suggests seeing a movie, while Bai Jun briefly senses danger and spots a tear-stained handkerchief across the street.
• At the cinema, Bai Jun mistakenly says he’ll see a different film. Hanya knocks him into compliance, buys tickets for Hanuo Brothers, and takes him into the screening room.
• Bai Jun soon falls asleep during the movie. Hanya, focused more on him than the screen, secretly holds his hand and becomes intensely flustered by her growing attraction. When he wakes, his casual movements make her blush so much that she gets a nosebleed.
• Hanya abruptly ends the outing, gives Bai Jun instructions and clothes for the next day’s meeting with her sister, and admits she was unusually happy spending time with him. She privately wishes they could go shopping again.
• After Hanya leaves, Bai Jun notices he is carrying only five shopping bags, though he remembers there were six.
• Back at Yōqiú Prison, Hanya checks in with Huo Huo and proceeds to the central hub. Tail detects Bai Jun’s scent on Hanya’s hands, clothes, and bag, teasing her about having visited him. Hanya denies it, and Huo Huo and Tail bicker before she silences them. Hanya then enters to find Xue Yi recovering from maintenance.

Character developments

• Hanya moves from guarded companionship toward unmistakable romantic attraction. Her attempt to create a date-like outing turns into an awkward, emotionally intense experience, and she privately wants to see Bai Jun again.
• Bai Jun remains easygoing and oblivious: he ignores Hanya’s romantic intentions, sleeps through much of the film, and treats the outing as an ordinary errand. His unexplained sense of danger and the missing bag suggest something remains unresolved.
• Huo Huo and Tail continue their familiar comedic push-and-pull, with Huo Huo more willing to talk back and Tail quick to tease.

Significant themes

• Unspoken attraction and miscommunication: Hanya’s feelings deepen, while Bai Jun fails to recognize her signals.
• Emotional awakening: Hanya’s attraction breaks through her usual restraint and emotional detachment.
• Foreboding and mystery: Bai Jun’s warning sensation, the tear-stained handkerchief, and the missing shopping bag hint at trouble beyond the outing.
• Duty alongside intimacy: Hanya’s personal feelings contrast with her disciplined work in the Ten Lords Bureau.

Character interactions

• Hanya and Bai Jun trade dry, teasing remarks over oranges, movie choices, and the outing; her mock irritation contrasts with her growing affection.
• In the cinema, Hanya watches Bai Jun rather than the film, briefly clasping his hand while he sleeps. His oblivious concern when she gets a nosebleed heightens the awkwardness.
• Hanya and Huo Huo share a warm, affectionate greeting, while Tail mocks Huo Huo and then exposes Hanya’s lingering closeness to Bai Jun through his scent.
• The chapter ends with Hanya approaching Xue Yi, setting up their next interaction.

Key events

• Xue Yi recovers and is delighted when Hanya says Bai Jun will accompany her on her upcoming Return to Life. Hanya hides her irritation, then rushes away when Xue Yi notices Bai Jun’s scent coming from her bag.
• After work, Bai Jun heads home with dumplings and responds to Jing Yuan’s invitation to drink. He buys plenty of alcohol, wary of Jing Yuan’s habit of drinking too much and taking over his bed.
• Tingyun arrives unexpectedly and, convinced Bai Jun has been seeing other women—especially Sushang—forces her way into his home. She pins him down and starts tearing at his clothes. Their confrontation is interrupted by a concerned voice at the door, which both recognize with alarm.
• In a parallel scene, Yukong reconnects with Feixiao, now a respected general. Feixiao teases Yukong about her feelings for a younger man and encourages her to pursue romance, even suggesting a bold kiss. Embarrassed, Yukong ends the conversation, then takes a nighttime walk and checks on the Tianbo Division, quietly covering a sleeping guard with her coat.

Character developments and interactions

• Xue Yi shows how deeply she values time with Bai Jun, while Hanya conceals jealousy or frustration as she arranges their outing.
• Bai Jun is sociable with colleagues and friends but finds himself in a chaotic, increasingly intimate standoff with Tingyun. He tries to avoid hurting her even as she breaks into his home.
• Tingyun displays intense jealousy and possessiveness over Bai Jun, confronting him about Sushang and acting on impulse.
• Yukong is revealed to have feelings for Bai Jun, though she is hesitant because of her age, responsibilities, and concern for Qingni and Tingyun. Feixiao, an old friend who still calls her “Sister,” urges her to make room for personal happiness.
• Yukong’s kindness remains evident when she protects the sleeping Tianbo Division guard during her walk.

Significant themes

• Romantic jealousy and rivalry: Multiple women’s interest in Bai Jun creates tension, especially in Tingyun’s confrontation and Hanya’s concealed resentment.
• Hesitation versus pursuing happiness: Yukong’s uncertainty contrasts with Feixiao’s direct encouragement to take a chance on love.
• Affection and care expressed through small gestures: Xue Yi’s familiar touch, Yukong’s concern for the guard, and the characters’ attention to one another reveal tenderness beneath the comedy and romantic turmoil.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yukong visits Bai Jun's home, hoping to admire the moon together.
• She hears a noise and finds Tingyun hiding in Bai Jun's bedroom.
• Jing Yuan arrives, forcing Yukong and Tingyun to hide under the bed together.

Character Developments

• Yukong: Becomes more open and direct due to alcohol, showing a playful side.
• Bai Jun: Struggles to maintain composure while dealing with Yukong's advances and Jing Yuan's visit.
• Tingyun: Feels embarrassed and guilty about being caught by Yukong and pressed close to her under the bed.

Significant Themes

• The tension between Yukong's feelings for Bai Jun and her role as a mentor and protector.
• The awkwardness and embarrassment caused by unexpected encounters and close proximity.

Character Interactions

• Yukong and Bai Jun: Their dynamic shifts as Yukong becomes more open and flirtatious, while Bai Jun tries to maintain boundaries.
• Yukong and Tingyun: They share an awkward and intimate moment under the bed, leading to a mix of emotions for both.
• Bai Jun and Jing Yuan: Jing Yuan's arrival adds to Bai Jun's stress, as he tries to keep the situation under control while dealing with both men.

Chapter 32 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Tingyun tells Yukong she is not an outsider and proposes that the three of them stay together. Yukong is so embarrassed that she faints, and Tingyun’s sudden movement apparently damages Bai Jun’s bedframe.
• In the living room, Jing Yuan hears noises from the bedroom. Bai Jun distracts him with drinks, then learns that Guinaifen, a famous singer on the Universal Tour Concert, is coming to the Luofu.
• Concerned that the concert could become a target for political trouble—or that harm to Guinaifen could provoke a major public backlash—Jing Yuan assigns Bai Jun to be her personal bodyguard. Bai Jun reluctantly accepts in exchange for a month of paid leave.
• As Jing Yuan leaves, he deliberately calls out to Tingyun and Yukong, revealing that he knows they are in the bedroom. A panicked Tingyun makes another noise, and Bai Jun finds both fox women unconscious beside his broken bed.
• The next morning, Elena waits for Bai Jun so she can apologize. They go to a café, where Bai Jun and her piggy bank, Zhang Zhang, quickly bond over desserts. Their antics escalate until Zhang Zhang eats the café’s table, and the three are thrown out and banned.
• Elena takes Bai Jun and Zhang Zhang to a pet store. Bai Jun is hesitant, but follows her inside; Elena eagerly goes to see the animals.

Character developments

• Tingyun shows growing confidence and affection by insisting that Yukong belongs with them.
• Yukong remains tender toward Tingyun but is overwhelmed by the proposal and by the situation’s embarrassment.
• Bai Jun is again caught between other people’s schemes: he is exhausted from dealing with the bedroom mishap, then accepts Jing Yuan’s assignment largely for the promised leave.
• Jing Yuan reveals his playful, meddlesome side, using both the bodyguard assignment and the timing of his farewell to tease Bai Jun and the fox women.
• Elena is gentle and accommodating, prioritizing Bai Jun and Zhang Zhang getting along over the café’s damage or her own inconvenience.
• Zhang Zhang shifts from biting Bai Jun to behaving affectionately with him, though its appetite remains highly destructive.

Significant themes

• Affection and belonging: Tingyun’s invitation makes clear that she sees Yukong as family rather than an outsider.
• Comic misunderstandings and meddling: Jing Yuan’s teasing and the café disaster turn ordinary situations into escalating farce.
• Duty versus self-interest: Bai Jun accepts a serious protective role, but the paid leave is what persuades him.
• Trust developing through small gestures: Sharing food helps Bai Jun and Zhang Zhang become comfortable with each other.

Character interactions

• Tingyun reassures Yukong and proposes that they share a life together; Yukong responds with flustered embarrassment.
• Bai Jun and Jing Yuan negotiate the bodyguard assignment, with Jing Yuan using teasing and paid leave to secure Bai Jun’s agreement.
• Elena attempts to help tired Bai Jun with coffee, while he and Zhang Zhang form a playful bond that gets them expelled from the café.
• Elena guides Bai Jun toward the pet store, hoping to encourage their growing rapport with Zhang Zhang.

Plot points and events

• At a pet shop, Elena visits the animals and learns about Dream Tapirs, which feed on naturally leaking Memory Essence and can ease sleep problems and anxiety.
• Bai Jun arrives with Zhang Zhang, who bites his hand. A Dream Tapir then cuddles up to Bai Jun, prompting Zhang Zhang to kick it away out of jealousy. Elena scolds Zhang Zhang; the shop owner confirms the Tapir is unharmed.
• The owner, Jin Xi, mistakes Bai Jun for Elena’s boyfriend. When she learns he is single, she openly proposes to him, offering to support him. Elena pulls Bai Jun away.
• Elena is unsettled by her own jealousy at seeing Jin Xi pursue Bai Jun, though his blunt hypothetical response makes her laugh and puts her at ease.
• Elena takes Bai Jun to a shooting range, expecting to show off her skill. She demonstrates excellent aim, but Bai Jun—despite claiming he is inexperienced—shoots with extraordinary speed and accuracy, clearing targets before she can.
• Elena performs impressively through increasingly difficult rounds, but finds Bai Jun calmly removing bullets from his magazine before the final round is even over. She realizes he has been hiding his ability.

Character developments and interactions

• Elena shows her caring, gentle side with the animals, but also a growing possessiveness toward Bai Jun. She is proud of her shooting skill and competitive, and Bai Jun’s unexpected performance turns her admiration into exasperation.
• Bai Jun is affectionate with Zhang Zhang and familiar with Dream Tapirs, while remaining relaxed and teasing. His exceptional marksmanship contradicts his claim of inexperience, suggesting he deliberately understated his ability.
• Zhang Zhang reveals jealous, possessive feelings toward Bai Jun through its thoughts and actions, attacking both Bai Jun and the Tapir. Elena responds like a frustrated caretaker, scolding it.
• Jin Xi shifts from warm pet-shop owner to enthusiastic suitor once she learns Bai Jun is unattached, creating an awkward moment that exposes Elena’s jealousy.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and emerging attachment: Elena’s unexpected discomfort at Jin Xi’s advances suggests she feels more for Bai Jun than she has acknowledged.
• Competition and respect: Elena frames giving one’s all as respect for an opponent; Bai Jun takes her challenge seriously and reveals his skill.
• Affection and possessiveness: Zhang Zhang’s jealousy mirrors Elena’s, though in a comic, more openly disruptive form.
• Hidden abilities and playful reversals: Bai Jun repeatedly surprises others, turning Elena’s planned lesson into a contest she did not expect.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun defeats Elena in a shooting match by secretly hitting one of the blue targets on her range while she is distracted. Elena protests and demands a rematch with the rules changed so he cannot shoot her targets.
• In the rematch, Bai Jun still wins by shooting Elena’s pistol and deflecting her third shot. He offers to help her up, but she bites his arm.
• The pair leave the range and go to lunch. On the way, Bai Jun explains that he is especially skilled with greatswords and describes the distinct sword styles of the Xianzhou Alliance, particularly Zhuming’s forceful, sweeping techniques. Elena suspects he may be from Zhuming, and he agrees, more or less.
• At the restaurant, Elena and Bai Jun share a warm meal. Bai Jun receives a call from Hanya, who reminds him that her sister Xue Yi’s Return to Life celebration is at six at Sanyu Bookstore and asks him to make sure it goes well.
• While Bai Jun is away, Zhang Zhang pulls a notebook from his coat. Elena reads it and discovers Bai Jun’s private musings about Huo Huo—especially his fascination with her fox ears, tail, and dark circles.
• Elena leaves in a fluster, interpreting Bai Jun’s casual reassurance that he does not mind her reading the notebook as a possible romantic hint. She wonders whether he likes her, then receives a call from her team leader, Francisco De Bisky, who says he has important news.

Character developments

• Bai Jun displays both tactical cunning and confidence, while remaining relaxed and good-humored about Elena’s protests. His knowledge of Xianzhou martial traditions hints at a deeper connection to Zhuming, and his eagerness to eat suggests his finances may be tight.
• Elena shifts from proud competitiveness to candid admiration of Bai Jun’s skill. She becomes increasingly comfortable and affectionate around him, but the notebook sends her imagination into an embarrassed, romantic spiral.
• Hanya appears through her call as talkative and playful, but is focused on arranging a happy celebration for Xue Yi.
• Zhang Zhang acts as a mischievous catalyst, inadvertently exposing the notebook to Elena.

Significant themes

• Rivalry and playful intimacy: The shooting contest turns competition into teasing, affection, and growing familiarity.
• Miscommunication and romantic projection: Elena mistakes Bai Jun’s indifference to the notebook incident for a deliberate hint, showing how easily her feelings shape her interpretation of events.
• Hidden histories and identity: Bai Jun’s expertise and familiarity with Zhuming suggest a past he has not fully explained.
• Care and companionship: Elena’s attentiveness at lunch and Hanya’s concern for Xue Yi both emphasize looking after others.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun and Elena move from adversarial competitors to relaxed companions, joking, sharing lunch, and discussing their backgrounds.
• Elena’s teasing and physical play—especially biting Bai Jun after losing—contrasts with her softer, attentive behavior during the meal.
• Hanya’s call interrupts their lunch and sets up Bai Jun’s later meeting with Xue Yi.
• Zhang Zhang’s snooping leads Elena to misread Bai Jun’s private notes and leaves her flustered about their relationship.

Chapter Summary

• Elena receives a major promotion. Her superior tells her to report back to the Interastral Peace Corporation within three days. She has been appointed a senior executive, leader of the Special Debt Investigation Team, and one of Diamond’s Ten Stonehearts. Though the achievement should make her happy, Elena feels unexpectedly melancholy, with Bai Jun on her mind, and leaves in a hurry.
• Bai Jun spends the afternoon at Buye Hou. The shopkeeper, Meng Ming, greets him like a familiar friend—and immediately reminds him about his unpaid tab. There, Bai Jun meets Sushang, a Cloud Cavalry recruit who is frustrated by the lack of excitement in her patrols. She is enthusiastic about helping others and eager to make her mark, but remains comically weak in book learning. Bai Jun explains a classical saying to her; she admits she still does not understand it. When she tells him her mother’s intensive martial training left her sleeping through school, he laughs at her old nickname, “Big Pillow Li,” embarrassing her.
• Sushang rushes off after hearing that a red-haired outworlder is causing trouble. She confronts the woman, who is performing street tricks near the Star Raft Sea. The performer teases Sushang, escapes using a staff and powerful firecrackers, and steals Sushang’s beloved Xuanyuan Sword. Soot-covered and devastated, Sushang runs back to Bai Jun.
• Bai Jun comforts Sushang and urges her to reclaim the sword herself. He listens as she recounts the encounter, wipes the soot and tears from her face, and reassures her that the theft is not a serious enemy plot. But he refuses to retrieve the sword for her, treating the incident as a lesson in taking responsibility.
• They track the performer to another crowd. The red-haired woman is using Sushang’s sword to prop up a table for her next act. Sushang hesitates to confront her without her weapon, prompting Bai Jun to remind her that a sword is only a tool: true martial skill comes from the heart. He then picks up an empty can and throws it at the performer, setting up a confrontation.

Character Developments and Interactions

Elena’s promotion marks a dramatic change in her career, but her subdued reaction hints at growing personal attachment or regret connected to Bai Jun. Sushang’s bold, helpful persona is contrasted with her insecurity when challenged and her dependence on her sword. Bai Jun acts as her patient but teasing mentor: he comforts her, pushes her to stand up for herself, and tries to teach her that confidence and skill should not rely on a weapon. Meng Ming’s teasing about Bai Jun’s tab adds a light, familiar note to the chapter.

Significant Themes

The chapter contrasts ambition and personal attachment, as Elena’s professional success is shadowed by thoughts of Bai Jun; learning through failure, as Sushang’s failed pursuit becomes an opportunity to grow; and inner strength versus reliance on tools, expressed through Bai Jun’s lesson that a sword is not the source of a warrior’s ability.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Guinevere tries to earn money with a street-performance stunt, promising to smash a granite slab while leaving the tofu beneath it intact. When Bai Jun throws a can that hits her, she drops the hammer and pulverizes the tofu. The crowd treats the failed stunt as a success and takes her tips.
• The tofu was meant to feed Guinevere’s many younger siblings. Angry and upset, she confronts Sushang, who had been arguing with her over Xuanyuan. Guinevere explains that she has a legitimate performance permit and wasn’t deliberately obstructing traffic.
• Feeling guilty, Sushang offers her money, but Guinevere refuses charity. Sushang then persuades a reluctant Bai Jun to help make amends.
• At a pastry shop, Sushang and Bai Jun treat Guinevere to desserts—and, eventually, order more for her siblings. Once Guinevere learns Bai Jun threw the can, she is initially resentful but accepts the food as compensation.
• Guinevere tells them her name and explains that her brother is called Lancelot. Sushang, eager to help her adopt a Xianzhou-style name, invents Guinaifen. Guinevere loves it and considers Sushang her first friend on the Xianzhou.
• The two women quickly become close and make plans to continue their performance business. Bai Jun pays for their huge dessert order, going into debt, but accidentally leaves the food behind when they rush off.
• As Bai Jun prepares to catch up and deliver it, Elena messages him that she is heading back in the next few days.

Character developments

• Guinevere/Guinaifen is resourceful and proud, working to support her large family. Although she is upset by the lost tips and ruined dinner, she refuses to accept money as charity. Being welcomed by Sushang and given a new name gives her a sense of belonging.
• Sushang moves from suspicion and conflict to remorse, kindness, and friendship. She insists on making things right and unexpectedly shows creativity by naming Guinaifen. The praise briefly boosts her confidence, though her habitual clumsiness remains.
• Bai Jun is repeatedly drawn into Sushang’s plans despite his reluctance. He takes responsibility for the can incident and pays for Guinaifen’s food, but his dry, exasperated perspective provides much of the comedy.
• Elena appears only through a message, signaling that she will soon leave.

Significant themes

• Kindness and responsibility: Sushang and Bai Jun try to repair the harm caused by the interruption, while Guinaifen accepts help when it is offered as compensation rather than pity.
• Belonging and chosen family: Guinaifen’s new friendship—and the name Sushang gives her—helps her feel connected to the Xianzhou.
• Pride and generosity: Guinaifen’s refusal of charity contrasts with the others’ willingness to help her and her siblings.
• Comedy through misunderstandings and consequences: Bai Jun’s can causes a chain of mishaps, and his reluctant generosity leaves him with the bill and a bag of forgotten desserts.

Character interactions

• Guinaifen and Sushang’s argument over Xuanyuan shifts into mutual understanding after Guinaifen explains her circumstances.
• Sushang advocates for Guinaifen and builds a friendship with her; naming her becomes the moment their bond is formalized.
• Bai Jun and Sushang trade exasperated looks and banter, with Sushang repeatedly committing his money and time to her plans.
• Guinaifen’s warmth and appetite quickly draw Sushang into her orbit, while Bai Jun watches their sudden closeness with bemusement.

Key plot points and events

• Elena’s vacation ends early because of a job change, though she has been promoted. She asks Bai Jun to see her off, and he agrees. Wanting to bring her a farewell gift, he asks Tingyun for money, framing it as compensation for the bedframe she broke. Tingyun sends him 100,000 Credits, then becomes curious about whom he plans to give a gift to.
• Meanwhile, Guinaifen recruits Sushang for a street performance. She promises Sushang only needs to lie still for a chest-breaking-boulder act, then ties her to a table beside a granite slab. Guinaifen’s enormous hammer smashes the table and ground, terrifying Sushang but leaving her unharmed. The spectators are unimpressed, and Sushang flees while Guinaifen chases after her, insisting she only wants to hit the stone.
• Bai Jun arrives to return desserts to Guinaifen and gets swept into the pair’s chaotic performance. When it ends, Guinaifen shares the unusually large amount of money they earned with Bai Jun and Sushang. Sushang initially refuses, wanting Guinaifen to spend it on her family, but accepts after Guinaifen insists that friends should share.
• Bai Jun gives Guinaifen the desserts and deducts his share of their cost from the money she owes him. The three part ways without having dinner: Guinaifen must cook for her many siblings, while Bai Jun has another appointment. Sushang and Bai Jun exchange Jade Omen contact details.
• Bai Jun meets Xue Yi at the Three Seasons Bookstore. He brings her a popular comic, and they exchange compliments before sitting quietly together. Hanya secretly watches, frustrated that Bai Jun has ignored her dating advice, though she feels relieved that the meeting is going well. She messages him to ask whether he met her sister and followed her suggested plan.

Character developments and interactions

• Bai Jun is generous but practical: he borrows money from Tingyun for a gift, accepts his share of the performance earnings, and accounts for the dessert debt. He grows closer to Sushang and Guinaifen through their shared misadventure, then meets Xue Yi with quiet attentiveness.
• Tingyun playfully interprets Bai Jun’s request for money as a possible sign of romantic interest, but sends far more than he asked for. Her curiosity about the gift hints at jealousy or possessiveness.
• Guinaifen is energetic, entrepreneurial, and devoted to supporting her large family. Despite her reckless performance idea, she insists on sharing her earnings with her new friends.
• Sushang moves from nervous participant to genuinely friendly companion. Though she panics during the act, she shows compassion toward Guinaifen and accepts the money only after Guinaifen frames it as part of their friendship.
• Xue Yi appears reserved, but softens when Bai Jun arrives and accepts his gift. Her quiet attention suggests growing affection, even as she pretends to enjoy the comic.
• Hanya is invested in her sister’s meeting with Bai Jun. Her irritation at his failure to follow her advice is tempered by relief that the encounter seems comfortable.

Significant themes

• Friendship and mutual support: Guinaifen and Sushang’s new bond is expressed through shared work and insistence on helping one another.
• Comedy through misunderstanding and recklessness: Sushang mistakes Guinaifen’s dangerously phrased reassurance for a threat, while the failed performance turns into a farce.
• Affection expressed indirectly: Gifts, compliments, shared silence, and concern reveal feelings more than direct declarations.
• Money and responsibility: Bai Jun treats money casually, while Guinaifen measures its value against her family’s needs; their different circumstances shape their choices.

Key plot points and events

• Bai Jun takes Xue Yi to Jiren Alley during her brief “Return to Life,” a rare period of freedom from her work as a Ten Lords Bureau judge.
• Xue Yi tries ice cream for the first time in a long while. She struggles with eating, gets it on her face, and Bai Jun wipes it away—an intimate gesture that leaves her flustered and Hanya, secretly watching, unexpectedly jealous.
• Bai Jun leads Xue Yi to a food stall to sample different flavors. Aunt Gao mistakes them for a couple and teases them; Xue Yi’s quiet closeness to Bai Jun only strengthens the impression.
• Bai Jun remembers his promise to make Xue Yi protective arm guards and takes her measurements, emphasizing that her current gear offers little defense.
• Xue Yi has forgotten how to use chopsticks, so Bai Jun feeds her. They share a warm meal before Aunt Gao gives Xue Yi white flowers and sends them off with more teasing.
• As Xue Yi’s half-day visit nears its end, she thanks Bai Jun and says she has had a very happy day.

Character developments

• Xue Yi begins the outing believing she has little right to happiness because of her sins and lack of ordinary human warmth. Through small experiences—food, companionship, and receiving flowers—she allows herself to enjoy the day and shows a gentle smile.
• Bai Jun is considerate and attentive, helping Xue Yi navigate ordinary activities and thinking practically about her safety. His casual intimacy with her suggests growing closeness, though he remains oblivious to how it appears to others.
• Hanya is unsettled by seeing Bai Jun treat her sister tenderly. Though she had encouraged him to spend time with Xue Yi, she now feels possessive jealousy and fears being displaced.
• Aunt Gao acts as a playful observer, repeatedly teasing Bai Jun and Xue Yi about being a couple.

Significant themes

• The right to happiness: Xue Yi’s guilt makes her feel undeserving of ordinary pleasure, but the outing gives her a glimpse of warmth and freedom.
• Intimacy through everyday care: Sharing food, helping Xue Yi eat, and planning protective equipment deepen their bond through small acts rather than declarations.
• Jealousy and changing relationships: Hanya’s reaction reveals that affection can bring insecurity even when circumstances seem to be improving.
• Memory and lost humanity: Xue Yi’s faded memories of eating and using chopsticks underline how far removed she has become from ordinary life.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun’s gentle care repeatedly flusters Xue Yi, while she responds with trust and quiet affection.
• Hanya watches their closeness from the shadows and privately struggles with jealousy.
• Aunt Gao teases the pair, but also welcomes them warmly and gives Xue Yi flowers.
• Xue Yi’s final thanks shows how meaningful Bai Jun’s companionship has been to her.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• On Xue Yi’s Return to Life day, she thanks Bai Jun for his help and, inspired by a comic, kisses him. The kiss is brief, but it stirs unfamiliar, intense feelings in her. Embarrassed and confused, she flees to report to the Ten Lords Bureau.
• Bai Jun is left stunned but amused. Finding the comic she dropped, he turns gloomy as he wonders what he would do if their time together were cut short.
• At the Bureau, Hanya returns looking despondent, while Xue Yi is also acting nervous. Huo Huo worries they have argued; Tail jokes that they may both be in love with the same man, prompting an awkward squabble.
• Before dawn, Sushang arrives at Bai Jun’s home to invite him to practice swordsmanship. When he refuses and goes back to sleep, she accidentally smashes down his front door. Bai Jun takes her wallet to cover the damage, then agrees to accompany her.
• During their sparring session, Bai Jun easily defeats Sushang, exposing the gap between their abilities. He critiques her tendency to rely on assumptions about an opponent’s weapon and to neglect careful observation.
• Sushang keeps fighting despite her first defeat, applying her mother’s teachings and trying different attacks. Bai Jun evades and counters her techniques, ultimately wearing her down with a sustained beating while carefully limiting her injuries to bruises.

Character developments

• Xue Yi experiences romantic feelings she cannot yet identify, revealing a growing emotional life beneath her mechanical nature. Her bold kiss gives way to embarrassment and panic.
• Bai Jun responds to Xue Yi with warmth and amusement, but his thoughts reveal anxiety about their possible future separation. In training, he shows exceptional skill, confidence, and restraint.
• Sushang begins as energetic and eager, but discovers how far she has to go as a swordswoman. Though repeatedly outmatched, she remains determined and learns to adapt rather than give up.
• Huo Huo is protective of both Hanya and Xue Yi and worries about their apparent distress. Tail’s teasing draws out a rare flash of assertiveness from her.

Significant themes

• Awakening emotion and intimacy: Xue Yi’s kiss marks her first conscious encounter with a feeling she cannot explain.
• Affection mixed with uncertainty: Bai Jun’s concern about a “short-lived” relationship suggests that closeness may be shadowed by the prospect of loss.
• Training, humility, and perseverance: Sushang’s defeat teaches her that strength alone is not enough; she must observe carefully and challenge her assumptions.
• Comedy and camaraderie: The ruined door, Huo Huo and Tail’s banter, and Bai Jun’s teasing soften the chapter’s more vulnerable moments.

Character interactions

• Xue Yi expresses gratitude to Bai Jun, then turns that gratitude into an impulsive kiss; Bai Jun accepts the gesture but privately worries about its implications.
• Hanya’s gloomy return and Xue Yi’s nervousness worry Huo Huo, while Tail needles her with speculation about romance.
• Sushang’s enthusiastic persistence clashes with Bai Jun’s desire to sleep, and her broken door forces him into an early-morning training session.
• Bai Jun acts as both Sushang’s formidable opponent and instructor, correcting her mistakes while ensuring she is not seriously hurt.

Plot points and events

• After an exhausting dawn training session, Bai Jun praises Sushang’s strength and potential, cheering her up. She persuades him to carry her to breakfast.
• They eat rice noodle rolls and other food at a popular Changle Heaven shop. Sushang offers to help Bai Jun whenever he needs it; he takes her up on the offer and brings her to the Crafting Department. He also tricks her into trying the foul-smelling local specialty, Soda Mung Bean Milk.
• At the department’s back entrance, Bai Jun’s status and familiarity with the place become apparent. He dismisses an employee’s attempt to call him “Hundred Refinements Master,” though the title is heard by Sushang.
• They meet Grand Artisan Gongshu Liang, who recognizes Bai Jun as a celebrated master. Bai Jun insists he be called only “Bai Jun” and asks to use the workshop.
• Gongshu explains that a huge automaton called Rongzhu has gone out of control after his disciples mishandled its data. Eager to prove herself, Sushang volunteers to subdue it.
• When she sees the towering, heavily armed automaton, Sushang panics. Bai Jun leaves her inside to stall it while he goes for reinforcements. The chapter ends with crashing sounds still coming from the workshop as he returns.

Character developments

• Sushang moves from discouragement after training to confidence when Bai Jun praises her. Her eagerness to be a hero leads her to volunteer recklessly, but the automaton’s size quickly exposes her fear and inexperience.
• Bai Jun shows warmth and respect for Sushang’s potential, but also a teasing, opportunistic streak: he uses her offer of help to recruit her, then abandons her to delay the automaton. His hidden standing as a “Hundred Refinements Master” is hinted at, though he avoids recognition.
• Gongshu Liang is stern with his disciples but deferential and excited around Bai Jun, revealing Bai Jun’s importance in the Crafting Department.

Significant themes

• Potential versus experience: Sushang has impressive ability, but real combat and sound judgment remain areas for growth.
• Humility and hidden status: Bai Jun’s refusal to use his prestigious title contrasts with the reverence others show him.
• Camaraderie and teasing: Bai Jun and Sushang’s comfortable closeness is expressed through banter, shared meals, and playful manipulation.
• Ambition and responsibility: The Crafting Department’s pursuit of mastery is set against the consequences of its craftsmen’s mistakes.

Character interactions

• Bai Jun encourages Sushang after training, then carries her to breakfast despite her playful demands.
• Over breakfast, Sushang offers her help; Bai Jun turns that promise into a trip to the Crafting Department.
• Bai Jun quietly suppresses attempts to reveal his title, while Sushang grows increasingly curious about his reputation.
• Gongshu treats Bai Jun with great respect, but Bai Jun keeps the encounter informal.
• Sushang’s bravado clashes with the reality of the malfunctioning automaton, while Bai Jun’s teasing leaves her to face it until help arrives.