Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baizhi wakes up at the gas station with no memory of the previous night's events.
• Ning Zhe reveals that she was severely poisoned but woke up without any lasting effects.
• They discover that two gas station employees have an intense urge to kill Baizhi, while another does not.
• Ning Zhe hypothesizes that a Ghost is influencing people outdoors at sunset to kill Baizhi.
• He concludes that the Ghost is controlled by someone targeting survivors of the Bishuiwan Manor incident, including Baizhi.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: Struggles to understand and accept her strange abilities and the danger she's in.
• Ning Zhe: Shows curiosity about Baizhi's abilities and the connection to the Bishuiwan Manor incident.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural: The Ghost's influence and Baizhi's immunity to its effects.
• Identity: Baizhi's mysterious past and her connection to the Bishuiwan Manor incident.
• Persecution: Baizhi is being targeted by an unknown force.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi and Ning Zhe: They work together to understand the situation and Baizhi's role in it.
• Baizhi and the gas station employees: Some employees want to kill Baizhi, while others are unaffected.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe faces two choices: flee or fight against the person controlling the Ghost.
• He decides to engage in a battle to the death, as the enemy's goal is Zhaoyou, and he and his family will be targeted if the enemy fails to obtain it.
• Ning Zhe discovers that time has skipped forward in the Almanac, from Lunar April 23 to Lunar June 29, and they are now in 2014, four years earlier.
• They find that the current date is favorable for acquiring wealth, so they gather money from the Gas Station and its employees.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe shows decisive resolve in choosing to fight against the unknown enemy.
• Baizhi remains cooperative and trusting of Ning Zhe's decisions.

Significant Themes

• Fate and free will: The Almanac's predictions and the Ghost's influence challenge the characters' ability to control their own destiny.
• Wealth and luck: The favorable day for acquiring wealth suggests that material abundance might bring them better fortune.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi work together to gather money, with Ning Zhe providing guidance based on the Almanac's predictions and Baizhi following his instructions.
• Ning Zhe shares his thoughts and decisions with Baizhi, keeping her informed about the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi find a large amount of cash and ammunition in the gas station.
• They follow the favorable activities for the day: bathing, killing the affected employee, and praying to Guan Yu.
• Ning Zhe finds a Wuling Hongguang to drive to Taoyuan City, leaving Ancient Tablet Town behind.
• Feng Yushu, in Taoyuan City, receives messages from Baizhi and responds, expressing her trust in Ning Zhe's protection.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe's luck seems to be improving, leading to fortunate discoveries and events.
• Baizhi is more at ease with Ning Zhe, showing trust and dependence on him.
• Feng Yushu's trust in Ning Zhe grows, making him her primary source of hope and security.

Significant Themes

• Luck and fortune: Ning Zhe's luck appears to be turning, leading to favorable outcomes.
• Trust and dependence: Both Baizhi and Feng Yushu place their trust in Ning Zhe for protection and guidance.
• Survival and perseverance: Feng Yushu's determination to live and see her loved ones again highlights her resilience.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi work together, sharing their discoveries and decisions.
• Feng Yushu and Baizhi communicate through messages, expressing their concerns and hopes.
• Ning Zhe is not present with Feng Yushu, but his influence and importance are evident in her thoughts and actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Yuanzhuang, a man in love, plans to propose to his girlfriend, Zhang Ziyi, a pediatrician at Qinzhou Medical College's Taoyuan West Branch.
• He waits for her at the hospital until 3 AM, only to find the hospital eerily empty and filled with corpses of staff, all in strange running poses.
• Li Yuanzhuang searches for Zhang Ziyi, finding the hospital deserted and terrifying, with no response to his calls.
• He encounters Feng Yushu, who questions him, triggering an uncontrollable impulse in Li Yuanzhuang to kill her. He lunges at her, but Feng Yushu steps on his shadow, causing him to die instantly.

Character Developments

• Li Yuanzhuang: Initially a loving and patient boyfriend, he becomes terrified and desperate upon finding the hospital filled with corpses. He is then overwhelmed by an impulse to kill Feng Yushu.
• Zhang Ziyi: Not present in the chapter, but mentioned as a kind-hearted pediatrician who never takes out her work stress on Li Yuanzhuang.
• Feng Yushu: Introduced as a mysterious woman who can kill people by stepping on their shadows. She is cautious and aware of the danger posed by those influenced by Ghosts.

Significant Themes

• Love and Relationships: Li Yuanzhuang's love for Zhang Ziyi is the driving force behind his actions, leading him to search for her in the terrifying hospital.
• Fear and Desperation: Li Yuanzhuang experiences profound fear and desperation upon finding the hospital filled with corpses and realizing that Zhang Ziyi is in danger.
• The Unknown and Danger: The mysterious and terrifying events in the hospital highlight the theme of the unknown and the danger it poses.

Character Interactions

• Li Yuanzhuang and Zhang Ziyi: Their relationship is shown through Li Yuanzhuang's determination to propose to her and his desperate search for her in the hospital.
• Li Yuanzhuang and Feng Yushu: Their brief interaction ends in Li Yuanzhuang's death, with Feng Yushu revealing her ability to kill by stepping on shadows.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi drive to Taoyuan City, where they discuss the ghost's influence and its possible Thought Stamp-like rule.
• They decide to visit the abandoned Hengsha Ecological Park to gather more information and prepare for the ghost's controller.
• Ning Zhe enters the park, leaving Baizhi to guard the car.

Character Developments

• Baizhi shows concern for her mother's safety and is willing to help Ning Zhe despite the danger.
• Ning Zhe demonstrates his strategic thinking and resourcefulness in preparing for the ghost's controller.

Significant Themes

• The influence of external forces on human behavior and beliefs.
• The importance of gathering information and being prepared in the face of danger.
• The contrast between the bustling city center and the desolate outskirts.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi work together, with Ning Zhe taking the lead in decision-making and Baizhi supporting him.
• They share knowledge about the Three-Body Problem novel and its concepts, showing a level of familiarity and mutual respect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Ganyu, a security guard at Hengsha Ecological Park, spots a mysterious black shadow on the surveillance feed, which he initially thinks is an escaped bird.
• He raises the alarm and mobilizes the other guards and keepers to search for the escaped bird, but no bird is found missing.
• Wang Ganyu inspects the Siberian forest cat exhibit and hears a splash in the artificial pond. He finds a bouncy ball in the water but nothing else.
• After he leaves, an anaconda emerges from the pond, transforms into a Siberian forest cat, and then into a butterfly, escaping through the ventilation duct.

Character Developments

• Wang Ganyu is a diligent and responsible guard who takes his job seriously, even if he sometimes complains about the workload.
• Ning Zhe, the mysterious figure who transforms into an anaconda and then a butterfly, is revealed to be the one who escaped from the park. He is determined to confront someone after his trial and error.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between humans and nature, as seen in the challenges of managing the ecological park and the escaped animal.
• The theme of transformation and identity, as Ning Zhe shifts between human, snake, and butterfly forms.

Character Interactions

• Wang Ganyu interacts with the other guards and keepers, working together to search for the escaped bird.
• Baizhi, waiting outside the park, interacts with Ning Zhe after his escape, showing concern for his well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe's mental state is strained by Taiyi's identity theft, particularly by the guard's identity.
• Ning Zhe realizes that the sun and moon in the sky are not real but God's eyes, and they appear together during sunrise/sunset.
• They deduce that they're in a virtual world similar to He Family Village, controlled by an unknown entity targeting Bishuiwan Manor survivors.
• Ning Zhe decides to find Feng Yushu and Baizhi to force the unknown entity to reveal itself.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe's understanding of Taiyi's rules deepens, and he becomes more determined to find a way out.
• Baizhi gains a better understanding of their situation and the world's rules.

Significant Themes

• The power of God/control and its consequences.
• The struggle against an unknown, powerful entity.
• The importance of understanding rules to survive.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Baizhi work together to understand their situation and plan their next move.
• Ning Zhe sends an SMS to Feng Yushu, stabilizing his mental state and confirming her safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Yao, a gaunt man with heterochromatic eyes, receives a video call from Bai Fugui (Tuyu) informing him that he has one more sunset to find Te Rang or face death.
• Ye Yao is seen pacing around a city model of Taoyuan City, trying to locate Te Rang.
• A car crashes into a hospital, and Ye Yao becomes interested in the people inside, suspecting they might have Te Rang.

Character Developments

• Ye Yao: He is desperate, running out of time, and willing to take risks to obtain Te Rang and survive. He shows frustration and fear of death but remains determined.
• Bai Fugui (Tuyu): He remains calm and collected, showing no concern for Ye Yao's situation. He hires himself out to Ye Yao but has no intention of helping him beyond their agreement.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and Urgency: Both Ye Yao and Ning Zhe (implied) are racing against time to achieve their goals.
• Power Dynamics: Bai Fugui holds power over Ye Yao, showing no sympathy for his dire situation.
• Risk and Reward: Ye Yao is willing to take significant risks to obtain Te Rang, hoping for a reward (survival).

Character Interactions

• Ye Yao and Bai Fugui (Tuyu): Their interaction is tense, with Ye Yao showing frustration and Bai Fugui remaining calm and indifferent.
• Implied Interaction (Ning Zhe and Baizhi): They are working together to prepare for an impending confrontation, with Ning Zhe taking the lead and Baizhi following his instructions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Sun Flash Butterfly disables the hospital's power, plunging it into darkness.
• Ye Yao, a tall, thin figure, approaches the hospital, his shadow revealing injuries despite his unharmed body.
• Taoyuan City is in chaos due to the sudden darkness, but the hospital remains unlit.
• Ye Yao infiltrates the hospital, and Ning Zhe, under the influence of a thought seal, kills himself.

Character Developments

• Ye Yao: Displayed remarkable ease in navigating the dark, hinting at his familiarity with such conditions. His shadow reveals injuries, suggesting a past trauma or connection to the Weird Events.
• Ning Zhe: Succumbs to a thought seal, leading him to kill himself, demonstrating the power of the Weird Events' rules over the characters.

Significant Themes

• Darkness and light: The power outage and Ye Yao's ability to navigate the dark suggest a struggle between light and dark, visibility and invisibility.
• The past's influence: Ye Yao's shadow and Ning Zhe's action imply that the characters' past experiences and traumas impact their present actions.

Character Interactions

• Ye Yao and the survivors: Ye Yao's presence and the survivors' actions (cutting the power) indicate a cat-and-mouse game between them.
• Ning Zhe and Baizhi: Their brief interaction shows tension and fear, with Ning Zhe ultimately succumbing to the thought seal's influence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The story announces its transition to a premium status.
• The author sets clear expectations for the protagonist and the story's direction.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe, the protagonist, is confirmed to remain unchanged throughout the story, with no character growth or romantic development.

Significant Themes

• The story establishes its tone as unapologetic and explicit, with a focus on challenging male chauvinism.
• It also introduces the theme of unconventional relationships, with a hint at a harem dynamic.

Character Interactions

• The author directly addresses the audience, setting boundaries and managing expectations for the story and its characters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe, a Gas Station employee, commits suicide by shooting himself.
• Ye Tian, an assassin, kills Ning Zhe and follows Baizhi, Ning Zhe's colleague, to find Feng Yushu, his real target.
• Ye Tian fails to notice that Ning Zhe's corpse disappears after Baizhi leaves.
• Baizhi meets Ning Zhe (disguised as Feng Yushu) at the ENT clinic, where he reveals that the assassin had a shadow but no body.

Character Developments

• Baizhi: Shows fear and distress after witnessing Ning Zhe's suicide, but maintains composure and continues to search for Feng Yushu.
• Ye Tian: Demonstrates his stealth and efficiency as an assassin, but underestimates his opponents, leading to his injury.
• Ning Zhe: Disguises himself as Feng Yushu to lure Ye Tian, revealing his cunning and resourcefulness.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs. Reality: Ning Zhe's disguise and Ye Tian's shadow without a body challenge the readers' perception of reality.
• Death and Consequences: The characters face the consequences of their actions, with Ning Zhe's suicide and Ye Tian's injury serving as examples.

Character Interactions

• Baizhi and Ning Zhe: Despite Ning Zhe's death, Baizhi continues to trust him, leading to her meeting with the disguised Ning Zhe.
• Ye Tian and Baizhi: Ye Tian follows Baizhi, using her to find Feng Yushu, but underestimates her and Ning Zhe's cunning.
• Ye Tian and Feng Yushu: Ye Tian attempts to assassinate Feng Yushu, but Ning Zhe's disguise leads to Ye Tian's injury.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Tian, a veteran dealing with Weird Events, is pursued by Baizhi (Feng Yushu) and Te Rang after his cover is blown.
• He attempts to escape, but the hospital's backup generators activate, illuminating the entire building and exposing his movements to Te Rang.
• Ning Zhe, in the form of an owl, tracks Ye Tian to his physical body's location on a nearby building's rooftop.
• Feng Yushu waits for Ye Tian at the hospital's main entrance, using Te Rang's Instant Death rule to kill him when he steps into the light.
• Upon Ye Tian's death, the Unseeable God, another ghost he controlled, regains its freedom but fails to affect the people on the ground due to missed timing.
• Ning Zhe speculates that Ye Tian's true target was Te Rang, not Zhaoyou.

Character Developments

• Ye Tian: Displayed exceptional survival instincts but ultimately fell into a trap set by Feng Yushu and Te Rang.
• Feng Yushu: Demonstrated excellent coordination with Te Rang and successfully killed Ye Tian.
• Ning Zhe: Showed keen observation skills and strategic thinking by tracking Ye Tian and formulating a hypothesis about his true objective.

Significant Themes

• Survival and instinct: Ye Tian's desperate attempt to escape highlights the primal instinct for survival.
• Coordination and teamwork: Feng Yushu and Te Rang's seamless cooperation showcases the power of working together.
• Timing and opportunity: The Unseeable God's failed attempt to affect the ground due to missed timing emphasizes the importance of opportunity and timing.

Character Interactions

• Feng Yushu and Te Rang: Their coordination and understanding of each other's abilities lead to Ye Tian's defeat.
• Ye Tian and the Unseeable God: Their relationship as controller and controlled is explored, with the Unseeable God regaining its freedom upon Ye Tian's death.
• Ning Zhe and Feng Yushu: They communicate and share information, leading Ning Zhe to hypothesize about Ye Tian's true objective.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe discovers the identity of the man he killed and learns about his past.
• He returns to Taoyuan City in 2018 after the false world dissipates.
• Ning Zhe meets with Feng Yushu to discuss Ye Tian's abilities and Te Rang's compatibility.
• He reveals Yu Ziqian's story and the origin of Ye Tian and Te Rang.
• Ning Zhe experiences a sudden transformation, and Feng Yushu helps him by giving him a mirror.
• Ning Zhe regains control and explains his temporary solution to his condition.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He learns about Yu Ziqian's past and the origin of the Ghosts he possesses. He also discovers a temporary solution to control his transformations by branding his mind with the thought: "I am Ning Zhe."
• Feng Yushu: She learns about the Ascendant circle, Ye Tian's abilities, and Te Rang's compatibility. She also shows concern and determination to help Ning Zhe despite her fear.

Significant Themes

• The power of rules and the consequences of using them.
• The concept of luck and fate in the context of the extraordinary events surrounding the characters.
• The struggle against one's own nature or identity, as seen in Ning Zhe's transformation and his attempt to control it.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Feng Yushu: They discuss the Ghosts' abilities and origins, leading to a deeper understanding of the world they're part of. Feng Yushu shows concern and willingness to help Ning Zhe when he's in distress, while Ning Zhe shares crucial information with her.
• Ning Zhe and Yu Ziqian (through flashbacks): Their interaction reveals the consequences of Yu Ziqian's actions and the power dynamics within the Ascendant circle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Yushu meets with Ning Zhe (disguised as Yu Ziqian) at a hotel. Ning Zhe asks Feng Yushu if she would perform dangerous tasks for him, even if it means certain death, and she agrees.
• Ning Zhe brands Feng Yushu with a thought imprint, making her completely obedient to him.
• Ning Zhe goes to Yu Ziqian's hotel, where he meets Yu Ziqian's girlfriends, the Li Sheng Sisters, who are under the influence of a thought imprint making them deeply devoted to Yu Ziqian.

Character Developments

• Feng Yushu's trust in Ning Zhe grows to the point where she's willing to risk her life for him.
• Ning Zhe demonstrates his manipulative abilities by branding Feng Yushu with a thought imprint and controlling the Li Sheng Sisters through Yu Ziqian's actions.
• Yu Ziqian is revealed to be a scumbag who uses thought imprints to control the Li Sheng Sisters.

Significant Themes

• Trust and obedience: Feng Yushu's unquestioning trust in Ning Zhe is explored, as is the theme of obedience through manipulation, seen in the Li Sheng Sisters' devotion to Yu Ziqian.
• The power of thought imprints: The chapter emphasizes the strength and influence of thought imprints, which can control people's actions and emotions.

Character Interactions

• Feng Yushu and Ning Zhe: Their relationship deepens as Feng Yushu agrees to perform dangerous tasks for Ning Zhe, and he brands her with a thought imprint.
• Ning Zhe and the Li Sheng Sisters: Ning Zhe interacts with the sisters, who are under Yu Ziqian's control, and learns about Yu Ziqian's manipulative behavior.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe, now in Yu Ziqian's body, retrieves Yu Ziqian's personal belongings from his two sisters, Zhang Hanying and Zhang Chongwen.
• Yu Ziqian is found to have kept his real and Weird World lives separate, making it difficult for Ning Zhe to find Ascendant contacts.
• Ning Zhe considers contacting Tuyu but decides against it, as Yu Ziqian's relationship with Tuyu is not close, and Yu Ziqian's abilities are unknown to Tuyu.
• Ning Zhe leaves the Sofia Hotel after paying the sisters and returns to Ancient Tablet Town.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe struggles with Yu Ziqian's identity and the lack of information about Ascendants.
• The Zhang sisters are revealed to be clueless about Weird Events and Ascendants, only interested in Yu Ziqian for his wealth and status.

Significant Themes

• The separation of real and Weird World lives among Ascendants.
• The struggle to find information and allies in a new, unknown world.
• The contrast between the sisters' shallowness and Ning Zhe's seriousness.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe interacts with the Zhang sisters, who try to seduce him but are ultimately rejected.
• Ning Zhe considers contacting Tuyu but decides against it, showing his caution and independence.
• Ning Zhe's interaction with Boss Zhang at the Gas Station shows his familiarity with his hometown.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins with a description of Ancient Tablet Town, where it has started to rain, and the town's unique architecture is detailed.
• Ning Zhe, the protagonist, drives through the town and reflects on the reason behind the delayed adoption of steel rain shelters, which could have solved the town's long-standing problem of roof leaks and dampness.
• Ning Zhe returns to his hotel, where he picks up a contract using Zhang Yangxu's identity.
• He goes home and shows the contract to his grandfather, claiming he negotiated a better deal for their house, which is to be demolished for a scenic area project.
• Ning Zhe's grandparents are astonished by the deal, which includes a significant demolition compensation and an entire floor in an upscale residential compound, River City Grand View.
• They express their desire to live in a smaller, quieter neighborhood, but Ning Zhe insists they move to River City Grand View.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He is portrayed as a responsible and resourceful young man who cares deeply for his grandparents. He is also shown to be secretive, as he lies about negotiating the contract and keeps his true intentions hidden.
• Grandfather: He is a simple man who relies on Ning Zhe for information about the contract. He is content with his life and does not have many desires or ambitions.
• Grandmother: She is a caring and nurturing figure who is also content with her life. She is more concerned about Ning Zhe's future than her own.

Significant Themes

• The theme of progress versus tradition is explored through the delayed adoption of steel rain shelters and the upcoming demolition of the town for a scenic area project.
• The theme of family and responsibility is highlighted through Ning Zhe's care for his grandparents and their concern for his future.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe interacts with his grandparents, showing them the contract and discussing their future living arrangements. He is secretive about his true intentions, while they express their concerns and desires.
• Ning Zhe's interaction with his teacher is mentioned briefly, as he asks for an extended leave from school. This interaction is not detailed, but it implies that Ning Zhe is a responsible student who keeps his teachers informed about his whereabouts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Hongzhi, a gambler in debt, pays off his bills at a snack shop, leading the owner to believe he's won money.
• Liu Hongzhi goes to an upscale restaurant, orders expensive food, but can't enjoy it due to his distress.
• He remembers a mysterious encounter the previous night, where a masked man offered to buy his life, wiping out his debts and giving him money.
• Liu Hongzhi discovers he has an enormous balance in his bank account, confirming the deal.
• A butterfly, which is later revealed to be Ning Zhe, appears in the restroom after Liu Hongzhi leaves.

Character Developments

• Liu Hongzhi: Struggles with gambling addiction and debt. After selling his life, he experiences a mix of fear, relief, and guilt.
• Ning Zhe: A mysterious entity who buys lives, absorbing memories. He's preparing for a dangerous task and uses Liu Hongzhi as a test.

Significant Themes

• The value of life and the consequences of desperation.
• The struggle with addiction and debt.
• The impact of one's actions on others, as seen through Liu Hongzhi's mother's plight.

Character Interactions

• Liu Hongzhi and the snack shop owner: The owner expresses concern for Liu Hongzhi's well-being and advises him to find a proper job.
• Liu Hongzhi and the masked man (Ning Zhe): Their encounter leads to Liu Hongzhi selling his life, changing his circumstances drastically.
• Liu Hongzhi and himself: He struggles with his reflection, grappling with the reality of his situation and the decision he's made.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Fugui, after his hospital examinations, leaves Qinzhou with his family.
• New Homeland Group withdraws from the Hanging Pot Scenic Area project due to the bizarre events in Ancient Tablet Town.
• New World Group, led by Zhang Yangxu, takes over the project despite their reservations.
• Ning Zhe, under Zhang's identity, compiles rules of Ascendants and ghosts into a Weird Event dossier.

Character Developments

• Bai Fugui: Recovers from his ordeal and leaves Qinzhou.
• Zhang Yangxu: Shows unexpected interest in attending a scholar's funeral, suggesting a hidden agenda.
• Ning Zhe: Continues to investigate and document the rules of the Ascendant circle and ghosts, revealing his cautious and strategic nature.

Significant Themes

• The Unspoken Rules of the Ascendant circle: Non-disclosure of identities, rules, and avoidance of killing other Ascendants.
• The consequences of an Ascendant's death: Uncontrolled Weird Events.
• The potential for conflict among Ascendants: When one's life or core rule is threatened.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Zhang Yangxu's assistant: The assistant arranges travel details for Ning Zhe (disguised as Zhang) to attend Ji Bochang's funeral, showing professionalism but also puzzlement at Zhang's sudden interest in the event.
• Implied interaction between Ascendants: The potential for conflict and killing among Ascendants is discussed, highlighting the delicate balance and mutual wariness among them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe travels from Qinzhou to Yun Province's Cloud Capital for Ji Bochang's funeral, receiving two invitations: one for Zhang Yangxu and one for Yu Ziqian.
• Ji Bochang's children, Shi Yurou and Ji Yunying, are arranging their father's funeral at Cloudrise Manor. Ji Bochang's study remains untouched, preserving his belongings according to his instructions.
• Ji Bochang's body is found missing from his coffin, and Shi Yurou shows Ji Yunying surveillance footage of the event.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: He is determined to attend Ji Bochang's funeral to make contact with other Ascendants and gain more knowledge about Weird Events.

Ji Bochang's Children

• Shi Yurou: She is mature, responsible, and handles the funeral arrangements. She is also aware of her father's unusual death and keeps the truth hidden.
• Ji Yunying: He is naive, easily influenced, and initially struggles with accepting his father's strange death. He falls asleep while keeping vigil and is shown the surveillance footage by his sister.

Significant Themes

• Death and Grieving: The chapter explores the customs surrounding death and funerals in the country, as well as the emotional responses of the characters to Ji Bochang's death.
• Secrets and Truth: The siblings keep the truth about Ji Bochang's death a secret, and the chapter delves into the reasons behind their decision.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and the Invitations: Ning Zhe ponders the reasons behind the invitations sent to Zhang Yangxu and Yu Ziqian, speculating about the involvement of Ascendants in Ji Bochang's funeral.
• Shi Yurou and Ji Yunying: The siblings interact throughout the chapter, with Shi Yurou taking the lead in managing the funeral arrangements and revealing the truth about their father's death to Ji Yunying. Their relationship is portrayed as close and caring, with Ji Yunying looking up to his older sister.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe arrives in Yundu City under the identity of Zhang Yangxu.
• He delays visiting Ji Bochang's Cloudrise Manor to first handle Zhang Yangxu's personal and work matters.
• At night, Ning Zhe, in the form of a bird, observes Cloudrise Manor, finding it oddly unprepared for a funeral.

Character Developments

• Zhang Yangxu: A successful businessman who is a live-in son-in-law, struggling with his wife's resentment and control.
• Ning Zhe: Adapts to his new identity and demonstrates proficiency in manipulating Taiyi's rules.

Significant Themes

• The tension between tradition and modernity, reflected in the contrast between Cloudrise Manor's secluded, traditional setting and its inhabitants' seemingly unconcerned attitude towards death and mourning.
• The consequences of unfulfilled love and resentment, as seen in Zhang Yangxu's marriage.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe interacts with Zhang Yangxu's wife, Xia Chan, via phone, placating her with his charm and persuasiveness.
• Ning Zhe observes Cloudrise Manor from afar, noting its strange layout and lack of funeral preparations.