Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “A Parade of Ugly Behavior”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the previous night’s confrontation, Xiao Luo contacts Coach Wang Haifeng to apologize and arrange compensation for the damaged car. He insists on meeting Feng Jun in person to discuss replacing the vehicle and handling the title transfer.
• Feng Jun agrees to meet Xiao Luo and the tall man at the Penglai Grand Hotel. Wang Haifeng and Li Xiaobin are also present.
• Feng Jun learns that Li Xiaobin, one of the performers from the previous night, has become his personal assistant. He warns Wang Haifeng against treating women disrespectfully, leading to their usual sarcastic banter.
• Xiao Luo apologizes repeatedly for the previous night’s attack and claims that he was drunk. Feng Jun rejects the excuse but agrees to settle the matter if Xiao Luo pays for the car.
• Instead of paying, Xiao Luo kneels and begins kowtowing, claiming that he has no money. His humiliating behavior shocks and disgusts everyone present.
• Wang Haifeng reveals that Xiao Luo works for Young Master Wu, whose wealthy father could easily afford the compensation. Xiao Luo explains that he acted independently while trying to defend Young Master Wu’s reputation and that he must personally bear the cost.
• Feng Jun realizes that Young Master Wu may not have ordered the attack at all. Xiao Luo and his associates had acted on their own to curry favor with him.
• Li Xiaobin openly condemns Xiao Luo as shameless and blindly devoted to Young Master Wu. Xiao Luo nevertheless insists that Young Master Wu treats him well and has demanded that he obtain Feng Jun’s forgiveness.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Displays authority and restraint. Although angry about the previous attack, he is willing to let the matter end once compensation is paid. Xiao Luo’s kneeling and kowtowing irritate him, revealing Feng Jun’s strong dislike of humiliation and servility. He also becomes more critical of those who create trouble merely to flatter powerful people.
• Xiao Luo: Shifts from the arrogant aggressor of the previous night to an excessively submissive, desperate figure. His willingness to kneel and kowtow shows both fear and a lack of dignity. He admits that he initiated the retaliation independently to gain Young Master Wu’s favor.
• Wang Haifeng: Remains irreverent and entertained by the situation. His teasing of Feng Jun and casual attitude toward women highlight his hedonistic personality, though he also provides important information about Young Master Wu’s wealth and behavior.
• Li Xiaobin: Shows significant social and personal growth. Now working as Feng Jun’s assistant and earning well, she has distanced herself from her former self-destructive behavior. She confidently challenges Xiao Luo’s moral blindness and defends her own dignity.
• Young Master Wu: Although absent, his character is reassessed. He may not have ordered the attack and seems to treat money and flirtation casually, while still placing responsibility on Xiao Luo for acting independently.
• The tall man: Remains largely silent and submissive, serving as a contrast to his former aggression.

Significant Themes

• Servility and loss of dignity: Xiao Luo’s kneeling and kowtowing expose the degrading lengths people may go to in order to survive under or gain favor with powerful figures.
• Blind loyalty and flattery: Xiao Luo justifies his actions as loyalty to Young Master Wu, but Li Xiaobin correctly identifies them as shameless pandering.
• Responsibility and scapegoating: Xiao Luo claims full responsibility because Young Master Wu refuses to pay, illustrating how subordinates may bear the consequences of actions taken to please their superiors.
• Appearance versus reality: The meeting reveals that the supposedly powerful and arrogant aggressors are frightened and dependent, while Young Master Wu may be less involved than initially believed.
• Moral growth and changing values: Li Xiaobin’s new position and attitude demonstrate her personal transformation, while Feng Jun’s reaction emphasizes dignity over social status or brute force.
• Class and power: The characters’ behavior is shaped by wealth, influence, and fear. Xiao Luo’s deference contrasts sharply with his previous arrogance toward people he considered weaker.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Wang Haifeng exchange mocking remarks about Wang’s womanizing and Feng Jun’s relationship with Li Xiaobin.
• Feng Jun firmly establishes Li Xiaobin as his professional assistant and warns Wang Haifeng not to confuse vulgarity with humor.
• Feng Jun confronts Xiao Luo over the attack, refusing his excuses but offering a straightforward solution: pay for the car and leave.
• Xiao Luo’s exaggerated submission clashes with Feng Jun’s contempt for kneeling and kowtowing.
• Wang Haifeng and Li Xiaobin help expose the connection to Young Master Wu, while Li Xiaobin directly challenges Xiao Luo’s justification for his actions.
• The chapter ends with Xiao Luo still defending Young Master Wu, even while admitting that Wu has left him to handle the consequences alone.

Chapter Summary

Feng Jun confronts Xiao Luo, the short man responsible for the previous night’s confrontation and the damage to Feng’s car. Xiao Luo shamelessly tries to justify repeatedly invoking “Young Master Wu’s” name, claiming he was merely making use of available resources. When Feng points out that crashing the car was also part of this “resource use,” Xiao Luo shifts blame, arguing that Feng had disrespected his master and that a servant should defend his master’s honor.
Feng mocks Xiao Luo’s contradictory excuses and refuses to accept responsibility for the injuries suffered by Xiao Luo’s group, noting that Third Brother and Manager Chang are already handling those matters. When Xiao Luo attempts to pressure him by citing the medical expenses and accusing him of refusing to show respect, Wang Haifeng threatens to beat him up. Feng instead asks whether the tea house has surveillance cameras, prompting Xiao Luo to leave. Before he goes, Feng gives him three days to compensate him for the damaged car.
Xiao Luo then reports to Wu Limin, arriving while Wu is relaxing with two women in his villa. He claims that he knelt and begged for mercy but that Feng still demanded payment and threatened to make Wu regret the incident. Wu is angry that Xiao Luo’s own actions have once again been associated with him. He insists that he never ordered the trouble at the performance bar and refuses to pay for Xiao Luo’s mistake.
The chapter explains Wu Limin’s personality and upbringing. Although he is a spoiled, womanizing heir, he is cautious about provoking outsiders because his father, Wu Jianguo, taught him that money cannot protect him from genuinely powerful people. Wu Jianguo allows him to spend freely and pursue women, but strictly forbids him from bullying or recklessly offending others. Wu Limin therefore treats outsiders cautiously while being particularly ruthless toward his own subordinates, whom he knows he can easily replace.
Xiao Luo understands this side of Wu and feels trapped. He cannot afford to replace Feng’s expensive car and warns that Feng will eventually come after Wu Limin regardless of the denials. Wu becomes irritated, especially after hearing that Wang Haifeng openly mentioned Wu Jianguo by name, though he still avoids confronting the Wang family because of their influence in Yang City. Wu orders Xiao Luo to explain the situation again and solve it himself. Xiao Luo argues that this is impossible because Manager Chang has already sided with Feng and suggested involving Wu Jianguo’s superior. He then insults Manager Chang’s judgment, implying she has been attracted to Feng, which further amuses and irritates Wu. Finally, Wu threatens to cut Xiao Luo loose if he cannot handle such a minor problem.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun remains calm, sarcastic, and firm. He refuses to be manipulated by Xiao Luo’s excuses or by Wu Limin’s status and establishes a clear deadline for compensation.
• Wang Haifeng acts as Feng’s outspoken ally, openly ridiculing Xiao Luo and threatening violence when his shamelessness becomes intolerable.
• Xiao Luo is shown as opportunistic, manipulative, and extremely shameless, but also vulnerable. He hides behind Wu Limin’s name yet lacks the money and authority to resolve the consequences himself.
• Wu Limin is revealed to be a selfish but cautious heir. He is permissive toward himself but harsh toward his own followers, especially when they create trouble that threatens to involve him.
• Wu Jianguo, though absent, strongly influences the chapter. His strict warning against provoking outsiders explains Wu Limin’s otherwise inconsistent behavior.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of status and connections: Xiao Luo relies on Wu Limin’s name to intimidate others, while Feng refuses to accept that inherited power excuses personal wrongdoing.
• Responsibility and scapegoating: Xiao Luo tries to shift his actions onto Wu Limin, while Wu attempts to push all responsibility back onto Xiao Luo.
• Power within hierarchies: Wu Limin fears outsiders but treats his own subordinates harshly because he considers them replaceable.
• Money versus real influence: Although Wu’s wealth can solve many problems, both Wu Jianguo’s teachings and the unfolding conflict suggest that money and family status cannot guarantee safety.
• Shamelessness and social manipulation: Xiao Luo’s rapid changes between pleading, threatening, and flattering provide much of the chapter’s humor and highlight his lack of integrity.

Important Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Xiao Luo: A tense confrontation in which Feng exposes Xiao Luo’s hypocrisy and refuses to be intimidated.
• Feng Jun and Wang Haifeng: They work together through mockery and mutual support, with Wang reinforcing Feng’s authority.
• Xiao Luo and Wu Limin: Xiao Luo seeks protection from his boss, but Wu coldly rejects responsibility and threatens to abandon him.
• Wu Limin and his absent father, Wu Jianguo: Their relationship reveals Wu’s obedience and fear of his father’s rules.
• Xiao Luo and Manager Chang: Xiao Luo resents her refusal to help him and tries to discredit her by suggesting she favors Feng.

Chapter Summary: “Inflated Wealth (Second Update)”

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Luo asks Wu Limin for 100,000 as severance pay, offering to deal with Feng Jun in exchange for remaining at Wu’s side. Wu refuses, unwilling to risk losing face or being cheated, and tells Xiao Luo he may leave.
• Feeling abandoned after more than six months of following Wu Limin, Xiao Luo decides to target Feng Jun again. He has only three days and begins seeking outside help, contacting “Fourth Brother” to ask about reaching Master Hong.
• Feng Jun meets Wang Haifeng for lunch and then visits securities-company director Zhang Wei. He wants to arrange another batch of silver dollars for his long-term activities in the Phone Plane and brings Li Xiaobin along to learn the relevant procedures.
• Zhang Wei initially looks down on Li Xiaobin because of her former nightlife work, but Feng Jun makes clear that she is now his legitimate personal assistant earning a substantial salary. Zhang’s attitude softens, and Feng Jun later spends over 30,000 yuan buying clothes for himself and Li Xiaobin.
• Feng Jun inspects the land he purchased with Zhang Weihong and discusses designing a villa. His rapidly increasing wealth has made him consider buying an entire mountain and creating a secluded retreat, though Yang City remains his main base.
• Zhang Weihong reports that her jade business is expanding rapidly and asks Feng Jun for more supplies. He agrees to provide jade at Peach Blossom Valley while keeping the true source and his Phone Space secret.
• Feng Jun asks Zhang Weihong to help secure a visa for Mairui Country and then reveals that he needs large quantities of explosives, supposedly for a mine. He claims transportation is no obstacle because he can move goods through his special means.
• He offers to transport other goods as well, but only legally and in exchange for explosives or gold rather than cash. Zhang Weihong is immediately interested and asks how many tens of thousands of tons he can move, leaving the discussion on a cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Xiao Luo becomes more desperate and ambitious after Wu Limin cuts him loose. His humiliation and fear of losing status push him back toward confronting Feng Jun, while he also begins considering the possibility of building his own influence.
• Wu Limin shows caution and concern for reputation. Although he values practical results, he refuses to give Xiao Luo a large payout without guarantees and avoids being manipulated.
• Feng Jun continues transitioning from wealthy businessman to powerful, secretive entrepreneur. He expands into silver-dollar production, jade distribution, property development, international contacts, and potentially large-scale logistics.
• Li Xiaobin is being integrated into Feng Jun’s legitimate business operations. She learns financial and production procedures and receives expensive clothing, while showing some possessiveness or suspicion toward Zhang Weihong.
• Zhang Weihong demonstrates strong business instincts and energy. Her success selling jade increases her dependence on Feng Jun’s supply, while the possibility of using his transportation ability excites her.
• Zhang Wei moves past his prejudice toward Li Xiaobin after learning of her new position and financial status, revealing how heavily he judges people by social and economic standing.

Significant themes

• Wealth creates new opportunities and new dangers: Feng Jun’s rapidly expanding fortune allows him to pursue land, luxury, international trade, and hidden projects, but it also attracts people seeking profit.
• Power and dependence: Xiao Luo’s reliance on Wu Limin contrasts with Feng Jun’s growing independence. Several characters attempt to attach themselves to Feng Jun because of his resources.
• Reputation and social prejudice: Wu Limin fears losing face, while Zhang Wei initially judges Li Xiaobin based on her past. Money and legitimate employment begin to reshape how others view her.
• Secrecy and trust: Feng Jun carefully protects the Phone Space and the origin of his jade and silver dollars. He also insists that any transportation work remain legal, despite discussing dangerous materials.
• Ambition and expansion: Characters repeatedly seek to enlarge their influence—Xiao Luo through violence, Zhang Weihong through commerce, and Feng Jun through a hidden international business network.

Character interactions

• Xiao Luo and Wu Limin’s exchange ends their patron-dependent relationship and motivates Xiao Luo’s renewed hostility toward Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun and Zhang Wei discuss silver-dollar production and the stock market, while Feng Jun uses the meeting to introduce Li Xiaobin to business operations.
• Feng Jun’s defense of Li Xiaobin forces Zhang Wei to reconsider his dismissive attitude toward her.
• Feng Jun and Zhang Weihong negotiate the supply of jade, with Li Xiaobin interrupting and showing unease about their familiarity.
• Feng Jun’s revelation about explosives and transportation changes the tone of his relationship with Zhang Weihong: she begins viewing him not only as a jade supplier but also as a potentially invaluable logistics partner.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun clarifies that he is not seeking to transport ten thousand tons of cargo, but is mainly trying to obtain explosives. Sister Hong agrees to inquire about a visa for Mairui Country, though she warns that the process will be slow. Feng Jun says African war zones would also be acceptable.
• Sister Hong jokingly suggests that Feng Jun should first build a relationship with the earthquake monitoring station, leaving him briefly confused.
• Li Xiaobin accompanies Feng Jun to Peach Blossom Valley, hoping to become familiar with the guards. Feng Jun uses the opportunity to move jade into the villa and Satpa’s car before resuming his cultivation.
• Four days pass amid mundane arrangements, including a call informing Feng Jun that his infrared alarms have arrived.
• Feng Jun brings Li Xiaobin and four pieces of jade to the Hongjie Club. Former coworkers recognize him as the once-unsuccessful employee who has apparently become wealthy, prompting gossip about his appearance, status, and relationship with Sister Hong.
• Sister Hong inspects the jade and learns that Feng Jun has more than ten additional pieces stored at Peach Blossom Valley. She is visibly delighted by the potential business.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong exchange suggestive remarks about loyalty and romantic boundaries. Feng Jun firmly identifies Li Xiaobin as his assistant and says he does not pursue relationships with people close to him.
• Sister Hong takes Feng Jun to a secure compound connected to the Provincial Materials Bureau to deliver the jade.
• At the compound, they learn that Manager Niu has caused trouble by involving their people in a road-digging dispute. Sister Hong criticizes the interference and insists that the Zhang family should avoid unnecessary conflicts.
• Zhang Caixin, Sister Hong’s younger half-sister, arrives with several others. She argues that she had a legitimate reason for becoming involved in the dispute because she had been paid.
• Caixin immediately takes an interest in Feng Jun, compliments his appearance, insults Li Xiaobin’s looks, and reveals that she has been helping sell Feng Jun’s jade.
• Feng Jun responds bluntly by asking whether Caixin and Sister Hong share the same father but have different mothers.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Continues expanding his business and preparing for future plans while remaining cautious about weapons and logistics. He is becoming wealthier and more confident, but also deliberately maintains boundaries in his relationships. His dry humor and directness are evident in both his exchanges with Sister Hong and his first meeting with Caixin.
• Sister Hong/Zhang Weihong: Shows strong business ability and enthusiasm for Feng Jun’s jade supply. She is protective of the Zhang family’s reputation and insists on avoiding unnecessary conflicts, especially those involving outsiders. Her teasing relationship with Feng Jun remains playful but restrained.
• Li Xiaobin: Becomes more integrated into Feng Jun’s personal and professional world by visiting Peach Blossom Valley, meeting guards, and accompanying him to business dealings. She remains calm and expressionless despite Caixin’s insult.
• Zhang Caixin: Is introduced as Sister Hong’s beautiful, assertive, and provocative younger sister. She is confident, impulsive, unconcerned with convention, and willing to engage in disputes if paid. Her immediate interest in Feng Jun suggests she may become a source of romantic or interpersonal tension.

3. Significant Themes

• Wealth and social transformation: Feng Jun’s former coworkers gossip about his dramatic change in status, emphasizing how quickly wealth alters others’ perceptions.
• Business versus personal relationships: Feng Jun and Sister Hong attempt to distinguish commercial cooperation from romance, while Caixin immediately blurs those boundaries through teasing and provocation.
• Reputation and restraint: Sister Hong stresses that the Zhang family should not provoke trouble, presenting practical business discipline as more important than pride or personal grudges.
• Power and social confidence: Feng Jun’s growing wealth gives him greater authority, while Caixin’s confidence and beauty allow her to dominate conversations and test others.
• Appearance and judgment: The chapter repeatedly highlights clothing, attractiveness, and social desirability, especially through the club employees’ gossip and Caixin’s criticism of Li Xiaobin.

4. Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Sister Hong: Their conversation mixes business negotiations, teasing, and implied romantic undertones. Feng Jun trusts her with valuable jade but emphasizes that he will not pursue her or someone within his close circle.
• Feng Jun and Li Xiaobin: He treats her as a trusted assistant and companion, bringing her into increasingly important parts of his life while making clear that he wishes to maintain professional boundaries.
• Sister Hong and Zhang Caixin: Their interaction reveals a familiar but tense sisterly relationship. Sister Hong acts as the responsible elder, criticizing Caixin’s impulsiveness and involvement in conflicts; Caixin resents being lectured.
• Zhang Caixin and Feng Jun: Caixin openly evaluates and flirts with Feng Jun, praises his appearance, and disparages Li Xiaobin. Feng Jun refuses to indulge her familiarity and answers with a pointed question about their family relationship.
• Club employees: Their gossip about Feng Jun’s past, wealth, and possible relationship with Sister Hong illustrates how his sudden success has changed his social standing.

Summary: “Storm Clouds Gather”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Caixin is established as Zhang Weihong’s cousin rather than her half-sister. She is a wealthy, carefree recent university graduate with a background in painting and some Russian aristocratic ancestry.
• Caixin has shifted her interests from art to business and is helping Weihong sell jade and expand into other provinces. Her privileged upbringing makes her somewhat naïve and impulsive.
• She offers to transport Feng Jun’s remaining jade, but the plan is interrupted when Weihong receives alarming news: Li Qiang, a television-station employee connected to Feng Jun’s circle, has been brutally assaulted.
• Li Qiang was attacked after a minor parking-lot incident. His right index and middle fingers were fractured, leaving him unable to work as a photographer for several months.
• Weihong reveals that Liu Hong arranged the beating. Liu Hong had previously clashed with Feng Jun over detonators and is now targeting people associated with him. A reporter who published criticism of Liu Hong was also threatened.
• Feng Jun deduces that Liu Hong deliberately attacked Li Qiang and threatened the reporter to send him a warning without leaving obvious evidence.
• Feng Jun becomes seriously angry and considers making Liu Hong “disappear,” implying lethal action. Weihong urges him to avoid extreme methods and offers instead to arrange one of her notorious “one-way plane tickets.”
• Feng Jun refuses to let Weihong handle the matter for him and decides to investigate Li Qiang’s condition personally. Weihong insists on accompanying him while ordering Caixin to remain behind for her safety.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun: His growing power and confidence are evident, but so is his protective pride. He refuses to hide behind Weihong and shows that Liu Hong’s attack has awakened a potentially violent response. His teasing intimacy with Weihong also reveals increasing romantic tension.
• Zhang Weihong: She displays her usual dominance, caution, and strategic thinking. Although she initially dismissed Liu Hong as insignificant, his actions now feel like a direct challenge to her reputation and authority. She tries to restrain Feng Jun while still asserting that she will protect him.
• Zhang Caixin: Caixin is introduced as wealthy, immature, and outspoken. She treats business and danger casually, eagerly involving herself in the jade transport and the conflict. Her naïveté contrasts sharply with Weihong’s experience.
• Li Qiang: His assault demonstrates the real consequences of Liu Hong’s retaliation. His professional identity is threatened by the injuries to his fingers, making him a vulnerable victim and an important link to Feng Jun.
• Liu Hong: Though absent from the scene, Liu Hong emerges as a vindictive and calculating antagonist who uses indirect violence and intimidation to reclaim his reputation and pressure Feng Jun.

3. Significant Themes

• Escalating retaliation: A former personal dispute develops into organized intimidation and violence, suggesting that the conflict is becoming more dangerous.
• Power, reputation, and face: Liu Hong attacks others to restore his dignity, while Weihong sees his actions as an insult to her standing and influence.
• Privilege versus experience: Caixin’s wealth gives her confidence but leaves her unaware of danger, whereas Weihong’s background has taught her to anticipate threats and plan for failure.
• Morality and violence: Feng Jun’s desire for lethal revenge clashes with Weihong’s preference for indirect, controlled solutions, raising questions about how far either character is willing to go.
• Romantic tension amid danger: Feng Jun and Weihong’s playful exchange reveals mutual attraction, but their flirtation is complicated by their business partnership and the increasingly serious threat around them.

4. Character Interactions

• Caixin’s casual attitude toward the jade shipment contrasts with Weihong’s practical concerns, highlighting their cousinly dynamic.
• Feng Jun and Weihong debate who should confront Liu Hong, with both attempting to protect and assert authority over the other.
• Caixin openly analyzes Weihong’s secrecy and behavior, irritating her cousin but also revealing her own fascination with power struggles.
• Feng Jun teases Weihong about becoming his employee and being “too close to the nest,” causing a rare, visibly shy reaction from the otherwise formidable woman.
• Weihong ultimately takes command by accompanying Feng Jun to check on Li Qiang while restricting Caixin’s movements to prevent her from becoming another target.

Chapter Summary: “Marching Toward Tiger Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qiang lies in the hospital after being brutally attacked by people working for Liu Hong. His injuries include a broken arm, fractured rib, dislocated jaw and shoulder, and broken fingers.
• Rather than immediately informing his parents, Li Qiang reports the assault to his organization and uses it to secure support, medical leave, and potentially compensation.
• Feng Jun visits Li Qiang with Sister Hong, Zhang Caixin, and the foreign-looking Li Xiaobin. He apologizes for involving Li Qiang and offers to compensate him.
• Li Qiang refuses compensation, insisting that Feng Jun’s conflict with Liu Hong is also a public matter involving the television program. He pledges to accept responsibility if Feng Jun retaliates.
• Li Qiang later informs Feng Jun that Liu Hong has moved from his prosperous entertainment club to Wangchao Diba and is making a conspicuous display of force. Feng Jun and the others infer that Liu Hong is preparing for a major confrontation.
• The group debates whether Feng Jun should follow conventional rules and attempt negotiation first. Zhang Caixin and Feng Jun argue that Liu Hong abandoned fair conduct when he attacked Li Qiang.
• Sister Hong agrees to gather intelligence and obtain a map of the area, though she remains uneasy about Feng Jun’s plan.
• Seven hours later, Feng Jun and an unidentified woman arrive at Wangchao Diba disguised as drunk patrons, signaling the beginning of their confrontation with Liu Hong.

Character Developments

• Li Qiang demonstrates unexpected loyalty and strategic awareness. Although outwardly spoiled and playful, he understands the value of building a lasting alliance with Feng Jun and is willing to endure danger for revenge against Liu Hong.
• Feng Jun accepts responsibility for Li Qiang’s injuries and becomes determined to retaliate. He presents himself as principled but recognizes that Liu Hong’s lawless tactics may require an equally forceful response.
• Sister Hong remains cautious and concerned with propriety. She wants Feng Jun to have a legitimate justification before acting, but ultimately supports him by gathering information.
• Zhang Caixin is more aggressive and pragmatic than her sister. She believes rules are useless against people who do not respect them and openly encourages retaliation.
• Li Xiaobin remains mostly silent but is introduced as someone close to Feng Jun, while Li Qiang notices Feng Jun’s apparent romantic connections with the women accompanying him.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and alliance-building: Li Qiang chooses friendship with Feng Jun over immediate compensation, hoping to secure a deeper and more beneficial relationship.
• Revenge and justice: The chapter questions whether retaliation is justified when formal rules fail to protect people from violence.
• Rules versus pragmatism: Sister Hong values respectable conduct, while Zhang Caixin and Feng Jun argue that rules cannot restrain people who already ignore them.
• Power and intimidation: Liu Hong’s conspicuous movement and show of force suggest an attempt to provoke or dominate his enemies before the confrontation begins.
• Appearance versus reality: Li Qiang’s playboy image hides his political and social intelligence, while Feng Jun and his companion disguise themselves as drunk patrons to conceal their intentions.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Li Qiang strengthen their brother-like bond through a candid discussion of responsibility, compensation, and revenge.
• Li Qiang teases Feng Jun about the beautiful women around him, provoking Sister Hong’s jealousy and irritation.
• Sister Hong and Zhang Caixin clash over whether Feng Jun should follow civilized procedures or respond directly to Liu Hong’s violence.
• Feng Jun sides with Zhang Caixin’s pragmatic position but continues joking with Sister Hong, revealing their familiar and flirtatious relationship.
• The chapter ends with Feng Jun and his female companion entering Liu Hong’s territory undercover, setting up the impending showdown.

Chapter Summary: “Family Traits”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin arrive by taxi at a Yang City disco bar to investigate Wangchao Diba and try to draw out Liu Hong’s group.
• Their wealthy appearance attracts attention, especially Zhang Caixin, whose beauty makes her stand out among the other patrons.
• While waiting for trouble, Zhang Caixin complains about the bar and becomes increasingly restless. She suggests dancing and later proposes deliberately provoking someone.
• She approaches a short man suspected of selling illegal goods, toys with him by asking what he is selling, and then dismisses him. When he threatens them by invoking “Hong-ge’s” territory, Feng Jun escalates the confrontation by placing brass knuckles on the table and ordering him to leave.
• Feng Jun prepares Zhang Caixin to defend herself with pepper spray and a stun gun, but no immediate retaliation occurs.
• Zhang Caixin later points out that another table has sent her a bottle of champagne. Feng Jun decides this is probably ordinary flirtation rather than a deliberate provocation, but he uses his “People Nearby” ability to investigate potential threats.
• The search reveals ordinary patrons at the nearby table, but Feng Jun notices a separate group of eight people gathered near a demolition zone. To his surprise, Liu Hong is among them, suggesting the real target may have already left the disco bar.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun remains cautious, observant, and protective. He refuses to provoke unnecessary conflict and emphasizes that Zhang Caixin’s safety is his responsibility. Although he finds her behavior exhausting and reckless, he also recognizes her youthful spontaneity as a valuable form of happiness.
• Zhang Caixin is shown as bold, mischievous, impatient, and eager for excitement. She actively tries to create a confrontation rather than waiting to be approached, demonstrating confidence but also impulsiveness. Her behavior reflects a family tendency toward rebellious, streetwise troublemaking.
• Zhang Caixin’s sister is indirectly characterized as similarly serious and “old-fashioned,” while also being protective enough to provide Zhang Caixin with defensive tools.
• The short man initially acts friendly but quickly becomes hostile when Zhang Caixin refuses his offer and challenges his authority. He retreats after Feng Jun’s display of intimidation.

Significant Themes

• Youthful recklessness versus mature caution: Zhang Caixin seeks excitement and danger, while Feng Jun stresses restraint and the consequences of acting without control.
• Family resemblance and inherited personality: The title is reflected in Zhang Caixin’s suggestion that her sister’s and her own troublesome tendencies may be hereditary, as well as in Feng Jun’s observation that her behavior resembles a family trait.
• Appearance and social perception: Zhang Caixin’s beauty and their expensive clothing draw attention, while Feng Jun’s unassuming appearance causes others to underestimate him.
• Protection and responsibility: Feng Jun accepts responsibility for Zhang Caixin’s safety despite disapproving of her conduct.
• Hidden danger beneath ordinary circumstances: What first appears to be casual nightlife and harmless flirtation may conceal more serious criminal activity, represented by Liu Hong’s presence outside the bar.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin engage in teasing, sarcastic banter throughout the evening. She mocks him as dull and “old,” while he compares supervising her to caring for a child.
• Zhang Caixin deliberately tests the short man, turning a casual inquiry into a confrontation.
• Feng Jun intervenes only when necessary, using controlled intimidation rather than immediately resorting to violence.
• Zhang Caixin’s provocative behavior contrasts with Feng Jun’s careful judgment, creating both comic tension and practical conflict between them.
• The chapter ends with Feng Jun’s discovery that Liu Hong is among a suspicious group nearby, shifting the investigation from the disco bar toward a potentially more dangerous location.

Chapter Summary: “Hand Over Your WeChat ID”

Key plot points and events

• Feng Jun tracks Liu Hong to a guarded compound behind Wangchao Diba after discovering that Liu Hong is preparing an ambush.
• He silently infiltrates the building and correctly deduces that Liu Hong is on the rooftop.
• Feng Jun catches Liu Hong attempting to reach for a hunting rifle and subdues him at gunpoint.
• He repeatedly strikes Liu Hong with the gunstock, knocking out several teeth and making clear that threats and resistance will not be tolerated.
• Liu Hong reveals that Wu Jianguo’s son hired him to deal with Feng Jun. He admits that he attacked Li Qiang to lure Feng Jun into a familiar battlefield.
• Instead of killing Liu Hong, Feng Jun demands access to his WeChat account and orders him to use his identity to purchase a plane ticket to Guangzhou for the following week.
• Liu Hong initially resists, claiming he cannot pass airport security, but Feng Jun says he will ensure Liu Hong gets through. Fearing the implications of the mysterious “Sister Hong’s plane ticket,” Liu Hong finally agrees to buy the ticket.

Character developments

• Feng Jun displays growing confidence, physical mastery, and ruthlessness. His High-Rank Martial Master abilities allow him to infiltrate the compound effortlessly, while his controlled use of violence intimidates Liu Hong into submission.
• Feng Jun’s anger is fueled not only by Liu Hong’s threats against him but also by the attack on Li Qiang. He refuses to accept Liu Hong’s attempt to frame his actions as ordinary business or personal mercy.
• Liu Hong, formerly a feared and arrogant underworld figure, is reduced to fear and pleading when confronted by Feng Jun. His willingness to beg reveals his instinct for survival and exposes the difference between his previous bravado and his behavior when genuinely threatened.
• Liu Hong also shows regret for provoking Feng Jun again after believing the earlier conflict had settled.

Significant themes

• Power reversal: The feared gangster becomes helpless, while Feng Jun controls the encounter completely.
• Consequences and retaliation: Liu Hong’s decision to attack Li Qiang and provoke Feng Jun brings direct consequences.
• Arrogance versus genuine strength: Liu Hong’s confidence in firearms and manpower proves useless against Feng Jun’s superior skill and preparation.
• Fear of the unknown: The ominous reputation of “Sister Hong’s plane ticket” gives Feng Jun’s demand psychological power beyond the immediate threat of the gun.
• Survival instinct: Liu Hong’s desperate begging demonstrates how quickly pride collapses when a person believes even a small chance of survival remains.

Character interactions

• Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin briefly exchange humorous banter when he excuses himself to “go to the restroom.”
• Feng Jun confronts Liu Hong directly on the rooftop, using violence and the gun to dominate the conversation.
• Liu Hong attempts to negotiate by promising not to trouble Feng Jun again and then shifts blame to Wu Jianguo’s son.
• Feng Jun rejects Liu Hong’s excuses and forces him to comply with the plane-ticket order, ending the confrontation with Liu Hong submitting out of fear.

Chapter Summary: Critical Condition (First Update, Celebrating Alliance Leader Ziyan)

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun takes Liu Hong to a nightclub rooftop under the pretense of sending him away by plane. After Liu Hong realizes the ticket could make his disappearance seem natural, he begs for mercy and offers money.
• Feng Jun transports Liu Hong’s body to the mysterious jade-built alternate space, confirming that living humans cannot survive being brought there. Liu Hong’s heartbeat and breathing stop immediately, though his body remains warm.
• Returning to the nightclub, Feng Jun finds Zhang Caixin being pursued by two drunken men, one of whom is Director Yan from the Municipal Administration Bureau. Feng Jun identifies Yan and calmly ends the encounter, using his knowledge of the man to intimidate him.
• Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin leave discreetly, taking multiple taxis, retrieving a hidden motorcycle, changing clothes, and departing without drawing attention.
• On the motorcycle, Zhang Caixin repeatedly questions Feng Jun about how he recognized Director Yan and whether the matter at Dynasty was settled. Feng Jun evades her questions with jokes about fortune-telling and “survival skills.”
• Back at the grain-store courtyard, Feng Jun reports to Sister Hong that Liu Hong has been given a plane ticket to Bud City for the following week. He implies that Liu Hong will never appear again, effectively making the ticket a cover for his disappearance.
• Sister Hong understands that Feng Jun has killed Liu Hong and disposed of the body so completely that no one will find him. Feng Jun leaves while continuing to disguise the truth as a fortune-telling prediction.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates increasing ruthlessness and confidence. He eliminates Liu Hong, conceals the evidence through his alternate world, and maintains a calm, joking façade even when discussing murder.
• He also shows growing strategic awareness, deliberately using Liu Hong’s plane ticket to create a plausible explanation for his disappearance and helping Sister Hong strengthen her intimidating reputation.
• Liu Hong shifts from arrogance to panic once he realizes the plane ticket may be part of a murder plot. His attempted negotiation and offer of money prove useless.
• Zhang Caixin becomes more curious and familiar with Feng Jun. She questions his secrets, physically clings to him on the motorcycle, and openly challenges his evasions, though she does not yet understand the true extent of his actions.
• Sister Hong recognizes Feng Jun’s methods and appears increasingly confident in his capabilities. Although startled by the implications of his words, she accepts his explanation and sees the value of the incident for maintaining her authority.

3. Significant Themes

• Disappearance and concealment: Feng Jun uses modern travel records and his supernatural alternate space to make Liu Hong’s murder appear like a planned departure.
• Power and reputation: The plane ticket is not merely practical; it reinforces Sister Hong’s feared image by making it seem as though she has acted against Liu Hong.
• Secrecy and deception: Feng Jun constantly lies or deflects, presenting impossible abilities as fortune-telling while hiding the existence of the alternate world.
• Moral detachment: Feng Jun treats Liu Hong’s death and disposal with chilling practicality, contrasting sharply with the ordinary social interactions surrounding him.
• Class, family, and privilege: The conversation between Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin touches on how wealth and family background provide advantages, while Zhang suggests that money does not compensate for a troubled or powerless family life.
• Dual identities: Feng Jun moves between the roles of ruthless enforcer, playful companion, and mysterious “fortune-teller,” keeping different aspects of himself hidden from those around him.

4. Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Liu Hong: A tense confrontation ends with Liu Hong’s death after his desperate attempt to bargain for survival fails.
• Feng Jun and Zhang Caixin: Their bantering motorcycle conversation reveals growing familiarity and physical intimacy, but also highlights Zhang Caixin’s suspicion and Feng Jun’s unwillingness to reveal the truth.
• Feng Jun and Director Yan: Feng Jun’s recognition of Yan’s identity immediately changes the balance of power. His restrained but pointed remarks embarrass Yan and force him to back down.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong: Their discussion is outwardly casual but carries an understanding of violence and criminal authority. Sister Hong deciphers Feng Jun’s euphemisms, while Feng Jun deliberately frames the disappearance as part of her reputation-building.
• Zhang Caixin and the two suitors: Her indirect attempt to signal that she is unavailable fails at first, but Feng Jun’s intervention quickly ends their harassment.

Chapter Summary: “Unruffled Disappearance” (Second Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Weihong and Zhang Caixin investigate the identity of the man they met at Wangchao Diba. After obtaining the roster, they confirm he was Deputy Director Yan Shouyi, whose background shows no connection to Feng Jun.
• Sister Hong concludes that Feng Jun’s disappearance of Liu Hong likely occurred during Feng Jun’s brief trip to the restroom. However, she refuses to accuse him of murder, emphasizing that Liu Hong has merely “disappeared” and that the truth may not matter.
• Because Liu Hong had many enemies and a bad reputation, Sister Hong believes the police may not investigate seriously, assuming he simply fled.
• The sisters visit Feng Jun’s villa to collect and sell the jade materials. They are surprised to be greeted by Li Xiaobin, now working as Feng Jun’s assistant.
• Feng Jun returns from exercising and allows Sister Hong to take the jade without first setting prices, trusting her to sell everything and settle the accounts later. To prevent confusion, he instructs Li Xiaobin to number and record the jade pieces.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong exchange flirtatious remarks, while Zhang Caixin playfully participates in the conversation.
• The discussion shifts to Wu Jianguo of Shengtang Construction. Feng Jun reveals that Wu’s son’s associate hired Liu Hong to target him after the car incident.
• Sister Hong warns Feng Jun that Wu Jianguo is dangerous and should be dealt with decisively. Feng Jun considers using Tian Laosan, a powerful figure connected to Red Ningpo Mountain, but decides to investigate further first.
• Feng Jun contacts Manager Chang. After consulting Wu Jianguo, she reports that Wu is willing to pay for the damaged car but wants clarification about Liu Hong’s involvement. Feng Jun refuses to provide evidence, telling her that Wu can investigate the matter himself.

Character Developments

• Zhang Weihong/Sister Hong: Becomes more cautious and serious in dealing with Feng Jun. She recognizes that he is increasingly mysterious and powerful, so she treats their business cooperation more formally. She also demonstrates strategic awareness by warning him not to provoke Wu Jianguo without a decisive plan.
• Zhang Caixin: Shows growing curiosity about Feng Jun and a sense of shared secrecy after the previous night. She is bold enough to ask whether he killed Liu Hong and openly supports retaliating against those who harmed him, though Sister Hong restrains her.
• Feng Jun: Displays confidence, control, and growing managerial authority. He casually handles the jade business, trusts Sister Hong, praises Li Xiaobin’s initiative, and remains unconcerned about Liu Hong’s disappearance. His willingness to confront influential people shows his expanding power and fearlessness.
• Li Xiaobin: Adjusts to her new role as Feng Jun’s employee despite privately feeling hurt by the change in their relationship. Feng Jun’s praise reassures and motivates her, and she proves herself useful by organizing the jade inventory.
• Wu Jianguo: Though absent in person, he is portrayed as calculating and experienced. He is willing to pay for the car but is concerned about the more serious and improper connection between his son’s people and Liu Hong.
• Manager Chang: Acts as an intermediary between Feng Jun and Wu Jianguo. Her initial reluctance and later urgency reveal the seriousness of the situation and Wu’s influence.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus practical consequences: Sister Hong suggests that whether Liu Hong was murdered matters less than the fact that he has disappeared and that few people will mourn or investigate him.
• Power and intimidation: Feng Jun’s confidence contrasts with Wu Jianguo’s reputation, establishing a conflict between emerging and established power.
• Trust and secrecy: Sister Hong and Feng Jun cooperate despite her growing uncertainty about him. Zhang Caixin senses that Feng Jun is hiding something, while Feng Jun remains deliberately vague.
• Professionalism amid danger: Business matters continue despite threats and possible violence. Feng Jun’s effort to organize the jade shows his attempt to impose order on an increasingly complicated life.
• Changing relationships and social roles: Li Xiaobin struggles with becoming Feng Jun’s subordinate, while Feng Jun increasingly behaves like a powerful employer and leader rather than an ordinary young man.

Character Interactions

• Sister Hong interrogates Zhang Caixin about the previous night, then lightly teases her about Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong engage in playful, flirtatious banter, revealing their familiarity and mutual confidence.
• Feng Jun praises Li Xiaobin’s initiative, strengthening her loyalty while also reinforcing the employer-employee boundary between them.
• Sister Hong and Zhang Caixin disagree over how aggressively Feng Jun should respond to Wu Jianguo’s actions.
• Feng Jun consults Manager Chang indirectly through her connection with Wu Jianguo, ending the chapter by refusing to explain Liu Hong’s disappearance or provide evidence.

Chapter Summary

1. Key plot points and events

• Wu Jianguo, attending a construction-industry conference in Tiannan, learns through a video call that his son Wu Limin cannot locate Xiao Luo and that Liu Hong has mysteriously disappeared.
• Wu Jianguo realizes Liu Hong’s disappearance is far more serious than a simple escape. Since Liu Hong was involved in arranging an attack on Feng Jun, his vanishing suggests that someone powerful may have dealt with him.
• Worried about his son’s involvement, Wu Jianguo orders the family to:
  • Buy Feng Jun’s side an identical Magotan as compensation.
  • Use Manager Chang as an intermediary.
  • Promise that the Wu Family will provide an explanation within three days.
• Wu Limin visits Manager Chang personally, bringing her expensive cosmetics and flattering her as “Auntie Chang.” She eventually persuades him to call her “Sister Chang” and agrees to ask Feng Jun for leniency.
• Manager Chang consults Third Brother, who tells her to investigate Liu Hong’s disappearance. She learns that:
  • Liu Hong had organized an attack on Feng Jun’s friend.
  • He had prepared an ambush at the Celestial Dynasty Disco.
  • After threatening revenge, Liu Hong disappeared.
  • Bloodstains were reportedly found at the location, leading many to suspect he had been killed rather than merely fled.
  • The gunmen involved in the ambush had scattered.
• Manager Chang contacts Feng Jun, explaining that the Wu Family has ordered the replacement car and will investigate the matter. Feng Jun agrees to give them another chance, partly out of respect for Manager Chang, but insists that Wu Limin eventually meet him directly.
• Wu Limin visits the performance bar that evening, giving every performer a flower garland as a show of support. Manager Chang then tells him that Liu Hong may have met with misfortune.
• Shocked by the implication that Liu Hong might be dead, Wu Limin immediately informs his father.
• Wu Jianguo returns to Funiu the next morning and privately investigates Liu Hong’s disappearance through his connections and influence.
• After half a day of investigation, Wu Jianguo confirms that Liu Hong truly vanished. His phone stopped generating call records and eventually disconnected from the network, though it had transmitted data shortly beforehand, suggesting there may be an important final clue.

2. Character developments

• Wu Jianguo shifts from anger toward his son to cautious damage control. He recognizes that the enemy may be much more dangerous than Liu Hong and adopts a conciliatory strategy rather than relying solely on money or influence.
• Wu Limin remains dependent on his father and lacks confidence in handling the crisis himself, but he shows social intelligence by bringing gifts, flattering Manager Chang, and following instructions carefully.
• Wu Limin’s mother continues to defend her son emotionally, minimizing the seriousness of the situation despite sensing the danger.
• Manager Chang becomes increasingly cautious. Initially willing to help because of the Wu Family’s gifts and status, she realizes that mediating this conflict may expose her to serious risks.
• Feng Jun is portrayed as relatively reasonable and willing to accept compensation, but he also demands sincerity and direct accountability from Wu Limin.
• Liu Hong, though absent, is revealed through others’ accounts to have been aggressive and confident before suddenly becoming vulnerable and possibly being eliminated.

3. Significant themes

• Power and intimidation: Liu Hong’s disappearance demonstrates that the true force behind the conflict is likely far more formidable than ordinary criminal figures.
• Family protection and responsibility: Wu Jianguo tries to shield his son, but his anger reflects the danger created by Wu Limin’s reckless connections.
• Money versus genuine accountability: The Wu Family attempts to compensate Feng Jun with a car and gifts, but Feng Jun insists that material compensation alone is insufficient.
• Indirect communication and social mediation: Much of the conflict is managed through intermediaries such as Manager Chang, showing the importance of personal connections and reputation.
• Uncertainty and hidden consequences: The chapter never confirms Liu Hong’s fate, but the bloodstains, missing phone, and fleeing gunmen create an atmosphere of escalating danger.

4. Character interactions

• Wu Jianguo harshly reprimands Wu Limin during the video call while his wife defends their son.
• Wu Jianguo instructs Wu Limin to flatter and reward Manager Chang, revealing both his strategic thinking and his distrust of his wife’s handling of the matter.
• Wu Limin attempts to build goodwill with Manager Chang through gifts and exaggerated respect. She resists being called “Auntie Chang” but agrees to help after he adopts a more appropriate form of address.
• Manager Chang consults Third Brother, who directs her to investigate Liu Hong rather than trust the Wu Family’s limited explanation.
• Manager Chang mediates between Wu Limin and Feng Jun. Feng agrees to delay retaliation but demands that Wu Limin eventually face him directly.
• Wu Limin reports the new information to Wu Jianguo, whose response shows that both father and son now understand the situation may involve forces beyond their control.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Jianguo investigates Liu Hong’s disappearance and discovers that Liu had booked a flight to Bud City before his phone went offline. The suspicious timing makes Wu suspect Liu was killed rather than fleeing.
• Unsure why a killer would purchase a plane ticket for the victim, Wu consults Third Brother Tian. Tian cryptically points him toward Zhang Weihong, the manager of Hongjie Club.
• Wu learns that Feng Jun had worked at Hongjie Club and remained connected to Zhang Weihong, who was helping him sell jade. He realizes that Zhang is likely responsible for the “plane tickets” and is a dangerous, mysterious figure.
• Tian advises Wu to seek Feng Jun’s forgiveness first and warns that he may have to ask Zhang Weihong for help because he owes her a favor. Wu becomes frightened that his family has provoked someone far more powerful than expected.
• Wu Jianguo instructs his son, Wu Limin, to resolve the conflict with Feng Jun politely. He specifically warns him not to recklessly involve Zhang Weihong or attempt to use romantic matchmaking as a bargaining tactic.
• The following day, Wu Limin visits Feng Jun with Manager Chang and several followers. Feng is inspecting one of his rented properties with Li Xiaobin.
• Wu Limin offers to let Feng stay there free of charge through Shengtang Construction, but this unintentionally alarms Feng because it reveals that the Wu family knows about one of his private fallback locations.
• Feng avoids accepting any favors, insists on eating only fast food, and then follows Wu Limin to a car dealership so they can address the delayed Magotan order.
• At the dealership, Feng encounters a beautiful saleswoman he previously had an intimate encounter with. He agrees to purchase another Magotan and lets her handle the insurance, subtly showing that he remembers and is willing to help her.

Character Developments

• Wu Jianguo shifts from investigating Liu Hong’s disappearance to realizing that the conflict may involve Zhang Weihong, someone powerful enough to eliminate people and conceal it through staged travel arrangements. His confidence gives way to fear and regret.
• Wu Limin becomes much more humble and cautious. Instead of acting arrogant, he actively tries to please Feng Jun and repair his family’s relationship with him.
• Feng Jun remains guarded and independent. He refuses to accept gifts or favors from the Wu family while the dispute involving Xiao Luo remains unresolved. His concern over the compromised villa also emphasizes his desire for secrecy and escape routes.
• Zhang Weihong never appears directly, but her reputation grows. She is portrayed as mysterious, influential, beautiful, and potentially ruthless.
• Manager Chang acts as an observer and intermediary, accompanying Wu Limin while recognizing the tension between the parties.
• Li Xiaobin continues to support Feng Jun, accompanying him as he manages his various properties.
• The car saleswoman reappears as a minor but personally significant connection for Feng Jun, suggesting his casual romantic history and willingness to help acquaintances.

Significant Themes

• Fear of hidden power: The Wu family realizes that apparently ordinary business conflicts may involve dangerous people with influence far beyond their expectations.
• Consequences of provocation: Wu Jianguo regrets allowing his family to antagonize Feng Jun and possibly Zhang Weihong.
• Privacy and self-protection: Feng’s multiple rental properties serve as backup locations, but his anxiety over the Wu family discovering one shows how seriously he values independence and concealment.
• Humility and strategic submission: Wu Limin abandons his previous arrogance and adopts a conciliatory attitude, demonstrating how quickly power dynamics can change.
• Indirect threats and social networks: Much of the danger is conveyed through rumors, favors, and carefully chosen hints rather than direct confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Wu Jianguo and Third Brother Tian exchange cautious, indirect information about Zhang Weihong, revealing mutual familiarity with the criminal underworld.
• Wu Jianguo instructs Wu Limin on how to approach Feng Jun, emphasizing politeness and restraint.
• Wu Limin attempts to curry favor with Feng by offering him free accommodation and inviting him to meals and the dealership, but Feng rejects the implied favors.
• Feng and Li Xiaobin inspect his villa together, establishing her role in helping maintain his private assets.
• At the dealership, Feng’s familiarity with the saleswoman creates awkward reactions from Wu Limin, Manager Chang, and Li Xiaobin. Feng nevertheless uses the encounter to secure the new car and assist the woman with an insurance sale.

Chapter Summary: “A Startling Revelation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Limin helps Feng Jun pay for insurance, hoping to strengthen their relationship. Feng Jun, who carefully distinguishes between money and personal favors, agrees to attend Wu’s entertainment bar that evening in exchange for news about an ongoing matter.
• Feng Jun continues transporting silver dollars and prepares surveillance and alarm equipment for installation on the Phone Plane. Because Lang Zhen and the Deng brothers struggle to understand Blue Star technology, he has the manuals translated into Small Seal Script. The equipment’s more sensitive functions are concealed.
• Li Xiaobin finishes removing labels and markings from the equipment but leaves work early because she feels unwell. Feng Jun realizes she is still upset about the entertainment bar incident.
• Feng Jun visits the hospitalized Li Qiang and informs him that Liu Hong has supposedly disappeared. He warns Li Qiang to report any news immediately, declaring that Liu Hong will never be allowed to reappear.
• Na Shi Hua Kai, secretly in the neighboring hospital room, interprets Feng Jun’s vague explanation as proof that he dealt with Liu Hong. She admires his ability and argues that his refusal to defend himself is itself suspicious evidence.
• Before going to the bar, Feng Jun drinks with the old man at the neighborhood factory to maintain their relationship.
• At the entertainment bar, Wu Limin arranges a secluded, luxurious booth and attempts to entertain Feng Jun extravagantly. Feng Jun rejects expensive liquor and flirtatious arrangements, insisting that he came only to obtain information.
• Manager Chang joins them, offering flattering hospitality and subtly drawing close to Feng Jun. Her appearance and perfume create a more seductive atmosphere, though she remains careful not to appear overly deliberate.
• After more than an hour, Wu Limin receives a disturbing phone call. Trembling, he reveals that Xiao Luo has died. Feng Jun immediately rejects the possibility that Xiao Luo committed suicide, but Wu insists that the death was officially recorded as suicide.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Continues to act cautiously and pragmatically, refusing to let financial transactions blur personal obligations. He displays growing authority and ruthlessness, especially in his warning about Liu Hong. His sharp judgment leads him to doubt Xiao Luo’s alleged suicide.
• Wu Limin: Becomes increasingly eager to please Feng Jun, paying for favors and arranging lavish entertainment. Despite his wealth and connections, he is indecisive and visibly terrified by the news of Xiao Luo’s death.
• Li Xiaobin: Shows emotional distance from Feng Jun after the earlier entertainment bar incident, refusing his ride and leaving work early. Her behavior suggests lingering resentment or discomfort.
• Na Shi Hua Kai: Demonstrates her ability to read between the lines and recognizes Feng Jun’s hidden involvement in Liu Hong’s disappearance. Her attitude shifts toward admiration, though she still maintains a protective concern for Li Qiang.
• Li Qiang: Remains cautious about openly accusing Feng Jun and warns Na Shi Hua Kai not to speak carelessly, suggesting he understands the danger surrounding the situation.
• Manager Chang: Uses polished flattery and calculated charm to fulfill Wu Limin’s request to entertain Feng Jun, balancing professional hospitality with personal allure.

Significant Themes

• Favors, obligations, and boundaries: Feng Jun insists that money and personal favors must remain separate to avoid misunderstandings and future trouble.
• Power beneath appearances: Feng Jun’s restrained words carry serious implications, while Na Shi Hua Kai and Wu Limin understand that his apparent calm conceals considerable influence and danger.
• Technology versus tradition: The difficulty of introducing modern surveillance equipment to the Phone Plane highlights the cultural and technological divide between the two worlds.
• Deception and hidden truths: Liu Hong’s disappearance and Xiao Luo’s supposed suicide suggest that official explanations may conceal deliberate killings or power struggles.
• Control and intimidation: Feng Jun rarely threatens people openly; his silence, composure, and indirect warnings are enough to unsettle others.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Wu Limin develop a tentative partnership: Wu seeks approval and friendship, while Feng Jun remains guarded and transactional.
• Feng Jun and Li Xiaobin’s relationship becomes strained because of her resentment toward the entertainment bar.
• Feng Jun’s conversation with Li Qiang indirectly confirms his hostility toward Liu Hong, while Na Shi Hua Kai interprets every omission as meaningful.
• At the bar, Wu Limin and Manager Chang cooperate to impress and appease Feng Jun, but Feng Jun refuses to be distracted from his purpose.
• The chapter ends with Wu Limin delivering the shocking news of Xiao Luo’s death, and Feng Jun immediately challenging the suicide explanation, setting up a likely investigation into the real cause.

Chapter Summary: “The Bizarre Suicide”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Limin’s men locate Xiao Luo, who is hiding in an apartment in Donglin.
• They cut the apartment’s fiber-optic cable, hoping Xiao Luo will come outside. When he does not, they pretend to be communications workers and knock on his door.
• Xiao Luo spots the ambush and escapes through a second-floor window. However, soybeans have been scattered beneath the window, causing him to slip and strike his head on the concrete. He dies shortly afterward.
• Although Wu Limin’s men did not directly kill Xiao Luo, the suspicious circumstances make the death appear potentially deliberate—especially because the soybeans were clearly placed there.
• Feng Jun refuses to accept the death as a simple accident. He suspects the Wu Family may be trying to silence Xiao Luo, who could have revealed who was targeting Feng Jun.
• Wu Limin insists that he had no intention of killing Xiao Luo and promises to find evidence, but Feng Jun warns that he will pursue the matter and cannot allow others to think he is easy to manipulate.
• Feng Jun gives Wu Limin a chance to reconsider his account before making a phone call, presenting himself as fair while maintaining pressure.
• Wu Limin’s father, Wu Jianguo, calls to assess the situation. He explains that Feng Jun is unlike ordinary businessmen: he relies on force and cannot tolerate any sign of weakness or encroachment.
• Jianguo advises his son to remain respectful rather than confront Feng Jun directly. He privately recognizes that Feng Jun is dangerous and that the Wu Family cannot afford another powerful enemy.
• After Feng Jun leaves, Wu Limin asks Manager Chang to keep Feng Jun company and get him drunk, implying that she should help ease the tension and possibly gain influence over him.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes more openly ruthless and determined. He sees the incident as part of a pattern in which others test his limits, and he resolves to retaliate rather than retreat.
• Wu Limin is shown to be timid, indecisive, and dependent on his father’s guidance. He tries to appear authoritative but panics when events become dangerous.
• Wu Jianguo demonstrates strategic patience and paternal concern. Though he normally criticizes his son, he calmly explains the danger of provoking Feng Jun and emphasizes compromise.
• Manager Chang appears pragmatic and discreet. She understands Wu Limin’s suggestion without asking unnecessary questions and is privately attracted to Feng Jun’s strength, appearance, wealth, and dominant personality.
• Xiao Luo remains mostly a victim of circumstance, but his desperate attempt to escape triggers the chapter’s central conflict.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Xiao Luo’s death looks like a bizarre accident, but the soybeans make it suspicious and potentially intentional.
• Evidence versus personal conviction: Feng Jun rejects the demand for formal proof, believing that powerful people often act based on judgment and instinct rather than legal evidence.
• Strength and deterrence: Feng Jun believes retreat encourages further attacks. His harsh response is meant to prevent others from testing him again.
• Business, survival, and insecurity: Although Feng Jun seeks cultivation and immortality, he continues building wealth as insurance in case his extraordinary opportunity disappears.
• Family power and political calculation: The Wu Family relies on connections and negotiation, but they recognize that Feng Jun operates through direct force and is therefore difficult to manage conventionally.
• Moral ambiguity: No one clearly ordered Xiao Luo’s death, yet Wu Limin’s men created the conditions that killed him, blurring the line between accident, negligence, and murder.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Wu Limin: Feng Jun interrogates Wu Limin’s explanation and pressures him to admit responsibility or provide a credible account. Wu Limin responds with fear and repeated pleas.
• Wu Limin and Wu Jianguo: Jianguo reassures and advises his son, explaining why Feng Jun must be treated respectfully and why direct confrontation would be dangerous.
• Wu Limin and Manager Chang: Wu Limin asks her to entertain and intoxicate Feng Jun as a form of damage control. She understands the underlying suggestion and considers it because she is attracted to Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun and the Wu Family: Their relationship shifts from suspicion to open confrontation, with Feng Jun signaling that he will investigate Xiao Luo’s death and defend his reputation forcefully.

Chapter Summary: “It Doesn’t Count as Harming You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At Wu Limin’s suggestion, Manager Chang agrees to drink with Feng Jun and allows events to unfold naturally, though she does not actively seduce him.
• Wu Limin becomes impatient when Chang shows no obvious signs of flirting or drunkenness. He decides to intervene, reasoning that because he gave her advance warning, secretly tampering with her drink would not count as deliberately harming her. He retrieves a small paper packet from his bag, strongly implying that he intends to drug someone’s drink.
• Before he can act openly, the imposing Zhang Weihong—known as Sister Hong and Feng Jun’s business partner—enters the private booth looking for Feng Jun.
• Sister Hong’s arrival immediately changes the atmosphere. Manager Chang abandons her attempt to bring Feng Jun and herself closer, while Wu Limin becomes nervous and deferential.
• Feng Jun privately asks Sister Hong whether she has learned anything about Xiao Luo’s death. She says the information is not yet available.
• Sister Hong sends Manager Chang away to fetch mineral water so she can speak privately with Wu Limin. She introduces herself as Feng Jun’s business partner and makes it clear, without issuing a direct threat, that she is aware of the conflict involving the Wu family.
• Wu Limin insists that the dispute is a misunderstanding, but Sister Hong dismisses him, telling him to speak to someone with the authority to resolve it.
• Sister Hong behaves respectfully toward Feng Jun, lighting his cigarette and drinking with the group. Wu Limin appears to lower his head and likely uses the opportunity to tamper with a beer bottle.
• Sister Hong notices that the beer tastes unusually strong but accepts another bottle. Shortly afterward, she receives a message, reads it, and announces that she is leaving, asking Feng Jun whether he will come with her.

Character Developments

• Manager Chang: Initially willing to cooperate with Wu Limin’s suggestion, she remains cautious and avoids overt seduction. Sister Hong’s arrival makes her recognize that the situation has shifted beyond her control. She becomes especially attentive and ingratiating toward Sister Hong.
• Wu Limin: His jealousy and impatience become increasingly obvious. He reveals a manipulative and morally questionable side by considering drugging a drink, while also showing fear and submission in Sister Hong’s presence.
• Feng Jun: He remains preoccupied with investigating Xiao Luo’s death. Although he drinks heavily and behaves somewhat casually, he trusts Sister Hong and relies on her connections and judgment.
• Zhang Weihong/Sister Hong: She is established as powerful, confident, socially dominant, and intimidating. Despite her authority, she treats service workers with basic consideration. Her arrival instantly controls the room and protects Feng Jun’s position.
• Xiao Luo: Though absent, his suspicious death remains an important underlying concern and motivates Feng Jun’s inquiry.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and moral self-justification: Wu Limin convinces himself that drugging someone is acceptable because he supposedly warned Manager Chang beforehand, exposing how people rationalize harmful actions.
• Power and social hierarchy: Sister Hong’s reputation and presence overpower Wu Limin’s wealth and confidence. The chapter emphasizes that influence and connections matter more than status alone.
• Appearance versus intention: Manager Chang pretends not to understand Wu Limin’s hint, while Wu hides his actions behind drinking. Sister Hong’s polite words also carry an unmistakable warning.
• Uncertainty and control: Several characters attempt to manage the evening, but Sister Hong’s unexpected arrival disrupts their plans and redefines the balance of power.
• Trust and hidden danger: Feng Jun relies on Sister Hong for information, while the possible tampering of the beer creates an unseen threat beneath the group’s apparently friendly drinking.

Character Interactions

• Wu Limin pressures Manager Chang to become intimate with Feng Jun, while Chang responds with deliberate ambiguity.
• Manager Chang and Feng Jun converse comfortably, though Feng Jun does not recognize her subtle change in attitude.
• Sister Hong intimidates Wu Limin through calm acknowledgment rather than open confrontation.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong speak privately about Xiao Luo’s death, demonstrating their business partnership and mutual trust.
• Sister Hong subtly excludes Manager Chang from the conversation, then later allows her to rejoin the group.
• Manager Chang attempts to serve and flatter Sister Hong, while Sister Hong maintains control without being overtly rude.
• The chapter ends with Sister Hong receiving new information and asking Feng Jun to leave with her, suggesting that the investigation may be advancing.

Chapter Summary: “Real Leather”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun, Wu Limin, Sister Hong, and Manager Chang discuss the police investigation into the incident at Yinyuan Residential Complex. Sister Hong reveals that no results will be available immediately because the police are working through the night.
• Sister Hong criticizes Wu Limin for relying on incompetent men who failed to identify who scattered the soybeans despite sealing off the area. Wu is intimidated, while Manager Chang tries to soften the tension and protect him.
• The group continues drinking. Sister Hong agrees to finish five more bottles before leaving, though she already feels unwell.
• A designated driver takes Feng Jun and the heavily intoxicated Sister Hong to Penglai Grand Hotel. Their conversation becomes flirtatious and suggestive, with Sister Hong provoking Feng Jun about going to Peach Blossom Valley and Feng Jun refusing to take advantage of her while she is drunk.
• The following morning, Feng Jun wakes up in bed with Sister Hong. He realizes they had sex, though his memories suggest that Sister Hong—who was unusually emotional, overheated, and possibly drugged—initiated much of the encounter.
• Sister Hong accuses Feng Jun of drugging her and coldly demands that he leave. Feng Jun denies drugging her and insists that the responsibility cannot be placed entirely on him.
• She attempts to dismiss the incident as something that should be forgotten, but Feng Jun refuses to pretend it never happened. Eventually, he agrees to leave, though he asks to shower first, further irritating her.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun shows confidence and social influence, but also restraint and a sense of personal boundaries. Although attracted to Sister Hong, he does not want to exploit her while she is intoxicated. Afterward, he becomes defensive but also concerned about her possible drugging.
• Sister Hong/Zhang Weihong displays her intimidating underworld authority when confronting Wu Limin. However, her drunken behavior reveals vulnerability and emotional instability. The next morning, she becomes cold and defensive, apparently ashamed or frightened by what happened.
• Wu Limin is humbled by Sister Hong’s criticism. He tries to maintain his dignity through flattery but is clearly afraid of angering her or causing trouble for his family.
• Manager Chang acts as a mediator, using humor to ease the confrontation and subtly protect Wu Limin.
• The designated driver provides comic relief, misinterpreting the situation and assuming Feng Jun is taking Sister Hong to a hotel for sexual reasons.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Sister Hong’s authority over Wu Limin contrasts sharply with her vulnerability when intoxicated.
• Consent and responsibility: The chapter raises uncertainty about whether Sister Hong was drugged and whether the sexual encounter was fully consensual. Feng Jun struggles to defend himself while acknowledging that the circumstances were abnormal.
• Public persona versus private vulnerability: Sister Hong is formidable in business and criminal circles but becomes emotionally exposed and embarrassed in private.
• Humor amid tension: Teasing, sarcasm, and the driver’s misunderstanding lighten an otherwise serious situation.
• Reputation and denial: Sister Hong wants to erase the incident to preserve their relationship and avoid confronting its implications, while Feng Jun insists that it cannot simply be forgotten.

Character Interactions

• Sister Hong dominates her exchange with Wu Limin, criticizing his incompetence and making him visibly nervous.
• Manager Chang uses joking remarks to defuse Sister Hong’s hostility toward Wu.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong develop a flirtatious, ambiguous dynamic in the car, mixing mutual attraction with verbal sparring.
• In the hotel, their relationship shifts sharply: Feng Jun is awkward and conciliatory, while Sister Hong is cold, accusatory, and emotionally guarded. Their unresolved disagreement leaves the consequences of the night uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “Inside Story (Second Update)”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun leaves the hotel early in the morning and discovers that the designated driver has spent the entire night sleeping in the car while waiting for him.
• Although Feng Jun criticizes the driver for risking his health, he pays him generously—far more than the official waiting fee—and dismisses him with the car keys.
• Feng Jun orders breakfast for Manager Chang, who is still asleep in the hotel suite, then tries unsuccessfully to contact Manager Chang and Wu Limin.
• Wu Limin, frightened by Feng Jun’s call, tells his father, Wu Jianguo, about the previous night’s incident: he had drugged wine intended for Manager Chang, but Zhang Weihong unexpectedly drank it instead.
• Wu Jianguo becomes furious because Zhang Weihong is connected to Feng Jun. His son’s reckless action may have destroyed their chance to win over either her or Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun sends Wu Limin a blunt message declaring that their grudge is irreconcilable because of the drugging incident.
• Wu Jianguo tries to attack his son, but Wu Limin escapes by calling for his mother.
• With nothing else to do while waiting for Manager Chang to wake, Feng Jun drives to Peach Blossom Valley, charges his phone, and goes back to sleep.
• Zhang Weihong spends the morning distracted and barely touches her breakfast. She receives a call from Third Brother Tian, who discreetly asks about the incident at his club.
• Zhang Weihong openly admits that she likes Feng Jun and deliberately used alcohol to make herself bolder around him.
• She criticizes President Tian for tolerating drugging at his establishment and concludes that Wu Limin was probably responsible, since Manager Chang had been sitting in the booth before her.
• President Tian attempts to calm her and asks what compensation or resolution she wants from the Wu family, while promising not to reveal that she can detect drugs.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates generosity and empathy toward the driver, recognizing that he once struggled similarly to earn money. However, he remains dismissive and forceful toward the Wu family, making clear that he considers the drugging incident unforgivable.
• The designated driver is portrayed as hardworking and pragmatic. He prioritizes earning the promised double fare, even at the cost of spending the night in an uncomfortable car.
• Wu Limin is revealed as cowardly and immature. He avoids Feng Jun’s call, admits his mistake to his father, and flees when Wu Jianguo attempts to punish him.
• Wu Jianguo emerges as calculating but genuinely enraged by his son’s incompetence. He understands the political and personal consequences of alienating Zhang Weihong and Feng Jun.
• Zhang Weihong becomes more emotionally honest and assertive. She acknowledges her feelings for Feng Jun, explains her behavior, and uses her intelligence to reconstruct who was responsible for the drugged wine.
• President Tian appears cautious and conflict-averse. Although he knows wrongdoing occurred at his club, he focuses on damage control rather than directly confronting the Wu family.

3. Significant Themes

• Consequences of manipulation: Wu Limin’s attempt to control Manager Chang backfires when Zhang Weihong becomes involved, turning a covert scheme into a major conflict.
• Power and social relationships: The characters constantly assess alliances, romantic connections, and the influence Feng Jun and Zhang Weihong hold over the situation.
• Empathy across social classes: Feng Jun’s generosity toward the driver reflects his memory of his own difficult past and contrasts with his harsh judgment of the Wu family’s unethical behavior.
• Romantic vulnerability: Zhang Weihong’s admission that she likes Feng Jun reveals that her bold actions are driven by insecurity and emotional hesitation.
• Cowardice versus responsibility: Wu Limin avoids accountability, while Wu Jianguo attempts to contain the damage caused by his son.
• Appearance versus reality: Characters conceal their intentions, infer hidden motives, and negotiate carefully because the true identities and goals behind the drugging remain partially uncertain.

4. Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and the driver: Their exchange mixes irritation with mutual practicality. Feng Jun reprimands him but rewards his dedication generously.
• Feng Jun and Wu Limin: Feng Jun’s message formally ends any possibility of reconciliation, escalating the feud.
• Wu Jianguo and Wu Limin: The father angrily confronts his son over the drugging plot, blaming him for ruining their relationship with Zhang Weihong and potentially Feng Jun.
• Zhang Weihong and President Tian: Tian probes her feelings and tries to mediate the incident. Zhang responds bluntly, challenging his passivity and warning that the matter cannot simply be ignored.
• Zhang Weihong and Feng Jun: Although Feng Jun is absent from the conversation, he is the central subject. Zhang’s feelings for him and her ambiguous connection with him are what make the drugging incident especially significant.
• The Wu family and Zhang Weihong: Their relationship deteriorates sharply because Wu Limin’s scheme appears to have targeted someone close to her, even though Zhang is not yet completely certain of his guilt.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Old Tian calls Sister Hong to plead for Wu Limin, arguing that Wu is not truly bold or malicious. Sister Hong sarcastically points out that Wu drugged someone and then watched her drink the drugged beverage. She agrees that Wu may seek forgiveness from Feng Jun, but leaves the final matter to them.
• Sister Hong privately becomes embarrassed while recalling the morning’s confrontation with Feng Jun, revealing that her feelings toward him are complicated and emotionally significant.
• Feng Jun wakes at noon and finds Li Xiaobin cleaning equipment. Before they can discuss lunch, Wu Limin calls to explain himself.
• Wu efficiently admits two important facts: he drugged Manager Chang and discovered who scattered the soybeans. The soybeans had been accidentally spilled by a child using an old toy gun, explaining why the incident had been so difficult to investigate.
• Wu explains that he arranged the drugging to curry favor with Feng Jun, while Manager Chang had tacitly approved it. He claims he stopped Sister Hong from participating because he feared she would become jealous.
• Feng Jun tells Wu that his forgiveness depends entirely on Sister Hong’s willingness to forgive him. Li Xiaobin overhears the conversation and becomes shocked by the impropriety surrounding the normally respectable performance bar.
• Wu later contacts Feng Jun to negotiate compensation for Xiao Luo, revealing that Sister Hong has authorized Feng Jun to handle the entire matter. When Feng Jun calls her, Sister Hong coldly says she considers the previous incident finished, which deeply unsettles him.
• Wu offers Feng Jun the nearby landscaped hills as compensation. Feng Jun is tempted because the land is secluded, fertile, and suitable for transporting goods between worlds, but he ultimately feels the location does not match his long-term dream of living in a remote homeland retreat.
• Feng Jun considers asking the Wu family to deal with Jubaozhai, believing that those who harmed him should be punished. However, he refuses to raise the issue himself because he does not want to appear intimidated by the Wang family.
• Instead, he calls his father to investigate large areas of barren mountain land near their hometown, intending to lease several thousand mu and possibly develop it with partners.
• During the call, Xu Leigang unexpectedly arrives after returning from Long City. He has lost considerable weight from the Body-Tempering Pill and boasts about his success there. Feng Jun immediately asks about Xu’s second brother.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes more assertive and strategic. He refuses to accept a weak settlement, recognizes the importance of projecting strength, and begins planning an independent rural base rather than relying on the Wu family.
• Sister Hong displays emotional vulnerability beneath her cold exterior. Her embarrassment over Feng Jun and her decision to withdraw from the dispute suggest that she may be hurt or jealous.
• Wu Limin shows efficiency, honesty, and practical intelligence despite his questionable behavior. He takes responsibility, identifies the soybean culprit, and works hard to negotiate a settlement.
• Li Xiaobin experiences a shaken perception of the performance bar and its people after overhearing the drugging discussion. Her interaction with Feng Jun also shows increasing familiarity and comfort.
• Xu Leigang demonstrates the physical effects of the Body-Tempering Pill, having lost around thirty pounds and become more agile. His confident return suggests he has achieved notable success in Long City.
• Feng Jun’s father remains concerned about his son’s safety and business judgment, warning him about the dangers of partnerships and hidden motives.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus weakness: Feng Jun concludes that excessive gentleness invites exploitation and that peace must be secured through strength.
• Loyalty, jealousy, and emotional distance: Sister Hong’s reaction to the drugging incident and Feng Jun’s distress at her emotional withdrawal reveal tension in their relationship.
• Negotiation and compensation: The Wu family attempts to settle its obligations through land and construction services rather than direct confrontation.
• Independence and self-sufficiency: Feng Jun’s desire to control a secluded, productive piece of land reflects his long-term wish to escape worldly conflict and secure his own future.
• Hidden causes and overlooked details: The soybean investigation is resolved through an unexpected explanation involving a child and an obsolete toy, emphasizing how obvious answers can remain hidden in plain sight.
• Reputation and deterrence: Feng Jun worries that forgiving enemies too easily would make him appear weak and encourage further attacks.

Character Interactions

• Old Tian and Sister Hong: Tian advocates for Wu, while Sister Hong responds with sarcasm and directs Wu to Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun and Wu Limin: Their phone calls shift from hostility to pragmatic negotiation. Wu confesses, explains his motives, and offers compensation; Feng Jun makes clear that Sister Hong’s forgiveness is essential.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong: Their brief conversation exposes emotional tension. Her claim that the incident is over affects him more than the dispute itself.
• Feng Jun and Li Xiaobin: Li Xiaobin questions the morality of the drugging incident, while Feng Jun awkwardly avoids discussing it directly.
• Feng Jun and his father: Feng Jun presents his plan to lease large tracts of land, while his father responds with surprise and concern about partnerships.
• Feng Jun and Xu Leigang: Xu’s unexpected arrival interrupts the call and prompts Feng Jun to ask about Xu’s family, particularly his second brother.

Chapter Summary: “The Price of Telling the Truth”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Leigang travels to Long City to support his second brother, whose company is being financially squeezed by rivals, banks, and business partners.
• Of the 45 million he brings, nearly 20 million is immediately used to stabilize the company. His presence and the knowledge that the Xu family can still raise funds in Funiu Province help reduce the pressure.
• Two companies begin negotiating to buy his brother’s valuable paint patent, offering prices only slightly above the company’s minimum acceptable amount. Since the company can now survive, his brother refuses to sell.
• With the crisis temporarily controlled, Xu Leigang returns to Funiu rather than accompany his brother to Mairui Country.
• Feng Jun asks whether Xu Leigang brought back weapons or explosives. Xu reveals that he can arrange overseas deliveries of explosives and sniper rifles, possibly sourced through Turkey or corrupt military channels in Shi Kingdom.
• Feng requests approximately 100 tons of explosives and 1,000 detonators. Xu explains that obtaining them will require a trade rather than ordinary payment: he wants Body-Tempering Pills.
• The reason for Xu’s request becomes clear: his family has noticed his dramatic weight loss and improved health. Pressured by his relatives, he admits that he met an extraordinary person and took a pill that cleared his meridians.
• His confession immediately leads his concerned elder brother and sister-in-law to insist that he undergo a medical examination at Anding Hospital.

Character Developments

• Xu Leigang: Demonstrates loyalty and filial devotion by supporting his brother publicly in Long City. He successfully helps stabilize the family business without directly intervening in business dealings. His improved physique and vitality attract family scrutiny, forcing him to reveal part of his connection to cultivation.
• Feng Jun: Continues seeking powerful modern weapons and explosives for protection and practical use, though Xu’s comments briefly make him question whether he is relying too much on external weapons instead of cultivation. He remains cautious and composed during negotiations.
• Xu Leigang’s siblings and in-laws: Their concern for his health reveals the family’s affection and protectiveness. They notice changes others might overlook and refuse to ignore what they believe could be a medical problem.
• Li Xiaobin: Is introduced to Xu Leigang as Feng Jun’s personal assistant. Xu jokingly implies a closer relationship, but Feng quickly clarifies the boundaries between them.

Significant Themes

• Family loyalty and responsibility: Xu Leigang risks involvement in Long City’s business conflict to demonstrate that his family still has influence and resources.
• The cost of honesty: Xu’s decision to tell his family about the miraculous pill is motivated by trust and affection, but the truth immediately creates new problems—his relatives demand medical tests and begin investigating his condition.
• Power and secrecy: Feng Jun and Xu Leigang both conceal important information. Their access to cultivation resources and illegal weapons depends on carefully controlled exchanges and ambiguous explanations.
• Traditional cultivation versus modern force: Feng’s desire for explosives and sniper rifles contrasts with the cultivation path, prompting him to reflect on whether weapons are a distraction from becoming stronger himself.
• Family concern as both support and pressure: The Xu family’s care is genuine, but their insistence on medical examinations shows how difficult it is for Xu to maintain his secret life.

Important Character Interactions

• Xu Leigang’s presence reassures his second brother’s business partners and rivals that the Xu family retains financial and regional influence.
• Feng Jun and Xu Leigang negotiate a potential exchange of explosives and sniper rifles for Body-Tempering Pills, with Xu cautiously testing whether Feng will accept the arrangement.
• Feng introduces Li Xiaobin to Xu, prompting Xu’s teasing and Feng’s firm clarification that she is only his assistant.
• Xu’s conversation with his elder brother about his transformation reveals the strength of the siblings’ bond, but also sets up the immediate conflict over forcing him to visit the hospital.

Summary of “Exposing Frauds”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Leigang is devastated after his family assumes he is mentally ill because of his unbelievable claims about extraordinary people. Although medical examinations prove he is sane, his brother and sister-in-law still doubt him.
• His family becomes interested in meeting Feng Jun after learning that Xu Leigang considers him an exceptional expert. Xu initially refuses to reveal Feng Jun, insisting that the master must be treated with respect.
• Xu’s eldest sister asks for Feng Jun’s help with her nephew, Yuan Youwei, an obese child whose condition has baffled doctors. Traditional physicians believe the boy suffers from congenital defects and deficient yang energy rather than simple overeating.
• To persuade Feng Jun, Xu jokingly claims that the master likes homemade artillery or explosives. His family takes this seriously, though Xu later insists that he must first ask Feng Jun for permission.
• Feng Jun agrees to see the child in Yang City but makes no promise of a cure. He emphasizes that patients must come willingly and that he will not beg anyone to accept his treatment.
• Xu suggests meeting in Long City to negotiate first, partly because the Yuan family has significant influence there. Feng Jun rejects the idea of acting overly deferentially.
• Feng Jun also warns Xu not to spread news about him. Xu admits that relatives learned about the master because family obligations made secrecy difficult. When Xu asks about receiving a cultivation technique, Feng Jun firmly refuses, considering Xu’s request an attempt to exploit his leniency.
• Xu contacts his sister Xu Ruofang, who arranges for the child and his parents to travel to Yang City.
• Li Ting, the child’s mother, wants to pursue the treatment immediately, while her husband Yuan Huapeng is skeptical and believes his father should be consulted. Their disagreement leads to an argument, though Yuan eventually agrees to accompany them.
• Yuan Huapeng consults his brother Yuan Huakun, who also doubts Feng Jun but advises maintaining a respectful, open-minded attitude.
• The family arrives at Yang City Airport with the child and Gao Qiang, a retired special-forces soldier from a traditional-medicine family. Gao’s role is to investigate Feng Jun and determine whether he is a fraudulent practitioner.

Character Developments

• Xu Leigang: Remains defensive and frustrated at being viewed as delusional, but his loyalty to Feng Jun is clear. He exaggerates Feng Jun’s importance and tries to gain further benefits, such as a cultivation technique, only to be firmly rejected.
• Feng Jun: Displays confidence, authority, and emotional restraint. He agrees to help but refuses to guarantee success or tolerate publicity and opportunism.
• Xu Ruofang: Becomes hopeful because her nephew’s condition has resisted ordinary treatment. She trusts Xu Leigang enough to pursue Feng Jun’s help despite the unusual requirements.
• Li Ting: Acts decisively and emotionally as a protective mother, prioritizing her son’s possible recovery over her husband’s doubts and practical concerns.
• Yuan Huapeng: Is cautious and rational, questioning the legitimacy of Feng Jun’s methods. Nevertheless, his concern for his son leads him to participate.
• Yuan Huakun: Occupies a middle ground between belief and skepticism, recommending respectful caution rather than outright rejection.
• Gao Qiang: Is introduced as a professional skeptic and investigator. Although connected to traditional medicine, he is committed to exposing charlatans rather than defending the field blindly.

Significant Themes

• Belief versus skepticism: The Xu and Yuan families struggle to reconcile extraordinary claims with rational judgment and scientific expectations.
• Family loyalty and obligation: Relatives become involved because they care about one another, even when they doubt the treatment or the person recommending it.
• Authority and reputation: Feng Jun’s perceived power allows him to set the terms, while the influential Yuan family expects its social standing to matter.
• Opportunism and restraint: Xu Leigang’s attempts to gain more from Feng Jun reveal the danger of taking advantage of someone’s generosity. Feng Jun responds by establishing firm boundaries.
• Traditional medicine versus fraud: Gao Qiang’s presence introduces the question of whether Feng Jun is a genuine expert or another fake practitioner, setting up an investigation.

Character Interactions

• Xu Leigang quarrels with his brother and sister-in-law over whether his experiences are believable.
• Xu’s relatives pressure him to introduce Feng Jun, while he insists that the master must be respected.
• Xu and Feng Jun negotiate the terms of treating the child, with Feng Jun rejecting guarantees and warning against spreading information.
• Li Ting and Yuan Huapeng clash over whether to pursue the treatment and whether the child’s grandfather should approve it.
• Yuan Huapeng consults Yuan Huakun, who advises him to remain respectfully open-minded.
• The arrival of Gao Qiang creates an impending confrontation between Feng Jun’s claims and an experienced fraud investigator.