Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Trading Techniques”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Senior Brother Guo investigates whether Yu Changqing is improperly allowing her family to benefit from spiritual energy at Feng Jun’s cultivation grounds.
• Yu Changqing explains that Feng Jun owns Zhige Mountain and permits occasional mortal visitors, making the situation technically acceptable. Guo realizes that challenging her could also implicate or offend Feng Jun.
• Guo suspects Feng Jun may be connected to Carefree Platform and protecting Yu Changqing, but Feng Jun rejects the implication, claiming he simply allows a “young friend” to cultivate on his land.
• Guo reveals his interest in Feng Jun’s long-distance communication method, particularly the walkie-talkie, which allows effortless communication over several li even during situations where ordinary voice transmission would be impractical.
• Feng Jun offers to sell the communication devices, but Guo wants the underlying technique. Feng Jun cannot explain the technology because he does not understand its engineering principles.
• Guo proposes trading one of three cultivation methods:
  • The Niu Family’s Tracking Art
  • The Fang Family’s Thunder Art
  • The Fu Family’s Essence-Blood Talisman Art
• Feng Jun refuses the proposed exchange, believing that one specialized technique is not equal in value to his broader technological system. He also distrusts the fact that the techniques belong to other families rather than Guo himself.
• Feng Jun instead offers to buy cultivation methods directly with Spirit Stones, talisman materials, or rare medicinal pills. He ultimately expresses the greatest interest in the Essence-Blood Talisman Art and agrees to discuss the transaction later.
• Before leaving, Guo borrows Yu Changqing’s Spirit-Gathering Formation Disk for five days, paying for its activation and allowing Yu Changqing to cultivate alongside him. The two weaker cultivators accompanying him can only watch enviously.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates growing confidence and negotiating skill. He refuses to be pressured, protects his interests, and insists on clear ownership and legitimate origins for any techniques he acquires.
• Yu Changqing remains composed and tactful under scrutiny. She gives a plausible explanation for her family’s presence and relies on Feng Jun’s status and protection without openly abusing the arrangement.
• Senior Brother Guo is shown to be probing, politically cautious, and commercially minded. He tests Feng Jun’s background, seeks to acquire the communication technology, and adapts when his initial offer is rejected.
• The two accompanying Qi Refining cultivators are portrayed as socially and materially inferior, unable to replenish spiritual energy as easily and resentful of Guo’s access to the formation disk.

Significant Themes

• Transactions disguised as favors: In this cultivation society, people avoid openly describing exchanges as trades because morality and reputation are important. Nevertheless, the underlying relationship remains transactional.
• Ownership and legitimacy: Feng Jun is unwilling to exchange his own technology for methods that may belong to other families or have questionable origins.
• Power and social status: Feng Jun’s ownership of Zhige Mountain gives him authority and protects Yu Changqing from stricter scrutiny.
• Technology versus cultivation: Feng Jun’s industrial communication system appears ordinary to him but is highly valuable to cultivators, highlighting the gap between technological knowledge and spiritual cultivation.
• Scarcity and inequality: Spirit Stones, formation disks, pills, and cultivation resources are limited, creating envy and dependence among cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Guo and Yu Changqing: Guo questions her about possible violations, while Yu Changqing answers carefully enough to avoid direct accusation.
• Guo and Feng Jun: Their exchange becomes a negotiation over the communication method and cultivation arts. Guo uses indirect bargaining, while Feng Jun responds bluntly and demands fair value and clean ownership.
• Feng Jun and Yu Changqing: Feng Jun publicly supports her right to cultivate at his grounds, strengthening their protective relationship.
• Guo and the other cultivators: Guo enjoys privileges they cannot access, particularly the chance to recover spiritual energy within the formation, increasing their envy and frustration.

Chapter Summary: The Patriarch Who Loved Street Racing

Key Plot Points and Events

• Senior Brother Guo and the other inspectors leave Zhige Mountain after confirming Feng Jun’s identity as an Immortal. Once this becomes public knowledge, fewer people dare approach or offend him.
• Yu Changqing thanks Feng Jun for defending her during the inspection and explains the dangers of accepting the cultivation techniques previously offered by the Guo group. The techniques may be connected to the purged Niu Family of Pine-Cypress Peak and could entangle Feng Jun in future conflicts or karma.
• Yu Changqing suggests that Feng Jun instead learn common five-element techniques, such as fireballs, earth walls, water condensation, flying needles, and vines. She could eventually teach him some of them after entering the Immortal sect.
• While Feng Jun focuses on studying talismans, especially the difficult Thunderclap Talisman, materials continue arriving. Other cultivators seek favors through the Tian Family, but Feng Jun ignores the social maneuvering.
• During a violent thunderstorm, Feng Jun observes lightning on Zhige Mountain for inspiration. Mi Shijie, patriarch of the Mi Family, arrives in a modified all-terrain vehicle—his prized vehicle and symbol of his unusual passion for street racing.
• Mi Shijie meets Feng Jun in a cave he has equipped with lighting, stools, and tea. He asks about the reward for offering an Immortal technique.
• Initially, Mi Shijie proposes offering his beautiful granddaughter, Mi Yunshan, to serve Feng Jun. Feng Jun rejects the implication that he needs women and demands that Mi Shijie explain his true purpose.
• Mi Shijie reveals that Mi Yunshan possesses a rare Shadowy Physique and was once promised guidance by an Immortal cultivator. However, because the Mi Family was threatened by the Soul-Seizing Thorn, they concealed her aptitude and prevented her from cultivating.
• Mi Shijie offers Feng Jun the Lightning-Calling Technique, believing Feng Jun’s interest in lightning makes the exchange especially appealing.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: His confirmed Immortal status gives him greater authority and freedom from ordinary social pressures. He becomes more cautious about accepting cultivation methods, recognizing that techniques may carry hidden political or karmic consequences. His fascination with lightning also becomes more explicit as he studies storms for talisman-making.
• Yu Changqing: She grows closer to Feng Jun after he protects her reputation. She demonstrates increased trust and offers practical guidance about cultivation-world politics, family feuds, and safe techniques.
• Mi Shijie: He is portrayed as an eccentric but shrewd patriarch: an aging martial artist, enthusiastic street racer, and opportunist who carefully prepares a negotiation with Feng Jun. His flattering approach shows both his respect for Feng Jun and his desperation to help Mi Yunshan.
• Mi Yunshan: Though she does not appear directly, her circumstances are revealed. She has rare cultivation potential but has been neglected because of her family’s fear and isolation. At twenty-one, she remains untrained and may now depend on Feng Jun for a chance at cultivation.

Significant Themes

• Power and social hierarchy: Feng Jun’s public recognition as an Immortal dramatically changes how others treat him, showing how status shapes relationships in the cultivation world.
• Hidden dangers of knowledge: Cultivation techniques are not merely useful tools; they may be tied to family secrets, bloodlines, political conflicts, and karmic consequences.
• Trust and protection: Yu Changqing’s explanation reinforces the growing mutual trust between her and Feng Jun, while Feng Jun’s willingness to consider Mi Yunshan’s situation suggests a developing sense of responsibility.
• Missed opportunities and fate: Mi Yunshan’s rare physique has gone unused for years because of circumstances beyond her control, raising the possibility that Feng Jun may give her a second chance.
• Science, cultivation, and curiosity: Feng Jun approaches lightning both as a natural phenomenon and as a source of spiritual inspiration, blending his practical knowledge with cultivation ambitions.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Yu Changqing: Yu Changqing reassures Feng Jun that rejecting the Guo group’s techniques was wise and offers safer alternatives. Their conversation strengthens their alliance.
• Feng Jun and Mi Shijie: Mi Shijie approaches Feng Jun deferentially and attempts to bargain with both Mi Yunshan and the Lightning-Calling Technique. Feng Jun sees through the indirect proposal and forces him to state his real objective.
• Mi Shijie and Mi Yunshan: Although they do not interact directly in the chapter, Mi Shijie’s actions show that he is trying to secure a future for Yunshan after the family’s prolonged failure to arrange her cultivation.
• Feng Jun and the wider cultivation community: Feng Jun’s Immortal identity causes people to withdraw from direct requests while redirecting their efforts toward families associated with him, especially the Tian Family.

Chapter Summary: “An Otherworldly Lin Daiyu”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun negotiates with Mi Shijie over accepting Mi Yunshan as a cultivator in exchange for the Lightning-Calling Technique.
• Feng admits that he has few cultivation methods to offer. The only practical option for Mi Yunshan is the Five-Element Mortal Transcendence, followed later by a Lunar Lineage technique if she can find one.
• Feng agrees to test Mi Yunshan’s aptitude before fully committing to the arrangement.
• Mi Shijie brings Yunshan to Feng’s residence and gives him the Lightning-Calling Technique. Feng is immediately captivated by the technique because it includes Qi Refining and Dust-Free Realm methods, as well as deductions reaching the Gold Core Realm.
• Because Yunshan is already twenty-one and has missed the ideal age for cultivation, Mi Shijie asks Feng to publicly claim that she has entered his chambers. This would protect the Mi Family from suspicion and discourage others from targeting her.
• Feng instead makes Yunshan his maid for the time being, leaving the possibility of a closer relationship open while avoiding a false or premature commitment.
• Yunshan begins serving Feng quietly and obediently. Feng tells her she will eventually cultivate near the Spirit-Gathering Array once her health improves.
• Feng sends Yunshan to summon Chen Junwei, then informs Chen and Lang Zhen that she will remain by his side.
• The chapter ends with Feng asking Chen Junwei to help him find someone with royal blood, presumably to access another cultivation technique.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun remains cautious and practical. Although he recognizes Yunshan’s beauty, he feels no romantic attraction and is unwilling to treat her as a mere concubine. His interest is primarily in her aptitude, loyalty, and usefulness.
• Feng’s trust issues become clear. He is concerned that anyone close to him might discover or expose his dangerous secrets, so Yunshan’s willingness to prioritize him reassures him.
• Mi Shijie shows both desperation and political awareness. He wants to secure Yunshan’s chance at cultivation while protecting the Mi Family from the consequences of revealing that she may possess unusual potential.
• Mi Yunshan is characterized as delicate, quiet, and melancholy, resembling Lin Daiyu in both appearance and temperament. Despite her fragile health, she demonstrates obedience, composure, and a willingness to place Feng’s interests above her family’s.
• Lang Zhen remains protective and suspicious. He watches Yunshan carefully but accepts Feng’s decision and agrees to guide her.
• Chen Junwei is drawn into Feng’s search for a royal-blooded person, linking him to Feng’s broader efforts to obtain cultivation techniques.

Significant Themes

• Missed opportunities and fate: Yunshan’s late age makes cultivation difficult, forcing Feng and Mi Shijie to compromise rather than follow an ideal path.
• Exchange and obligation: The Lightning-Calling Technique is treated as the price of Yunshan’s future, showing how cultivation knowledge functions as a valuable political and personal currency.
• Trust and secrecy: Feng’s reluctance to bring someone into his inner circle reflects the danger of his hidden origins and abilities.
• Social status and protection: Publicly claiming Yunshan as a chamber companion would give her protection, even if the relationship were not genuine. Her status must be carefully managed to prevent political trouble.
• Loyalty versus family ties: Yunshan’s declaration that she will prioritize Feng over her family signals a major psychological shift from ordinary worldly life toward dependence on an immortal cultivator.
• Appearance versus genuine compatibility: Although Yunshan is conventionally beautiful, Feng is not interested simply because of her looks; emotional connection and trust matter more to him.

Character Interactions

• Feng and Mi Shijie negotiate respectfully but strategically, each trying to protect their own interests while reaching an agreement.
• Feng’s reaction to the Lightning-Calling Technique reveals that the cultivation manual is ultimately more valuable to him than Yunshan’s beauty.
• Yunshan and Feng initially sit in awkward silence, but her quiet act of replacing his cold tea establishes her as attentive and unobtrusive—qualities Feng appreciates.
• Feng reassures Yunshan that she may begin cultivating and rejects the ritual of giving her a new name, signaling that he will not force her into an artificial immortal identity.
• Yunshan successfully acts as Feng’s representative when summoning Chen Junwei, demonstrating her early usefulness.
• Feng introduces Yunshan to Lang Zhen as his maid, while Lang’s guarded reaction shows that her presence may alter the dynamics around Feng.
• The closing request to Chen Junwei shifts the story from Yunshan’s acceptance into Feng’s household toward Feng’s continuing search for cultivation resources.

Chapter Summary: “Lightning-Calling Technique”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Junwei warns Feng Jun that the person who destroyed Hundred Flowers Pavilion belonged to the powerful Dust-Free Realm. Feng Jun remains unconcerned and orders Chen to proceed with inviting this person.
• Feng Jun decides to trust Lang Zhen and Mi Yunshan with the Chen Family’s secret plans, despite having some doubts about Mi Yunshan’s reliability. He believes he needs to establish his own circle quickly because traveling between two planes is shortening the time he has to cultivate and develop.
• For the next two days, Feng Jun studies the newly acquired Lightning-Calling Technique while also making talismans.
• Mi Yunshan moves into a nearby room to care for Feng Jun, even bringing him meals. Liu Feifei becomes jealous and feels that Mi Yunshan is taking away her close relationship with Feng Jun.
• Yu Changqing follows Feng Jun into the mountains while he practices the Lightning-Calling Technique. After several failed attempts, she approaches him and questions his decision to help Mi Yunshan cultivate despite her age and lack of prior training.
• Feng Jun explains that Mi Yunshan possesses a rare Nether Shadow Physique, but her family’s troubles delayed her cultivation. He intends to help her as repayment for the technique her family gave him and because she could contribute spiritual energy to the Spirit-Gathering Array.
• Yu Changqing warns that Mi Yunshan’s physique is difficult to cultivate without a specialized Nether Shadow technique. Feng Jun has only the Five-Element Mortal Transcendence method, so her future remains uncertain.
• Feng Jun reveals that the technique he received is the Lightning-Calling Technique. Yu Changqing identifies it as an introductory form of the legendary Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, an ancient lightning art whose higher-level versions have been lost except among the four great sects.
• She estimates that even the Qi Refining version could be worth one or two hundred Spirit Stones, making the technique a valuable favor from the Mi Family.
• Yu Changqing explains that success requires exhausting all of one’s spiritual energy, recovering fully, and then trying again. Feng Jun follows her advice, casting the technique more than six hundred times until completely drained.
• Yu Changqing guards him and activates the Spirit-Gathering Array. Feng Jun gives her one of his scarce Spirit Stones and tells her to use his resources for cultivation on Zhige Mountain.
• After recovering his spiritual energy over a full day and night, Feng Jun studies the technique again and resumes practicing.
• After more than one hundred additional attempts, one casting suddenly consumes twenty percent of his spiritual energy. The earth shakes, and a mysterious sound rises from underground, signaling that the technique may finally have succeeded or triggered something significant.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates confidence, decisiveness, and a willingness to take risks. He values loyalty and practical cooperation, even when he has doubts about people such as Mi Yunshan. His generosity toward Yu Changqing shows that he is becoming more willing to invest in trusted companions.
• Mi Yunshan begins taking a more active and intimate role in Feng Jun’s daily life by caring for him. Her presence creates tension with Liu Feifei and highlights her determination to secure a place within Feng Jun’s group.
• Yu Changqing acts protectively and responsibly, guarding Feng Jun during his dangerous training. She also shows concern for her younger sister Zhu’er’s position and initially resents Mi Yunshan, but her attitude softens after learning about Mi Yunshan’s unfortunate circumstances.
• Liu Feifei reveals a childish but sincere attachment to Feng Jun, becoming upset when Mi Yunshan receives his attention.
• Chen Junwei remains cautious and fearful of the Dust-Free Realm, contrasting with Feng Jun’s bold indifference.

Significant Themes

• Trust and the creation of alliances: Feng Jun lacks time to carefully evaluate everyone, so he must build a network based on calculated trust.
• The cost of opportunity: Mi Yunshan’s late start and difficult physique illustrate how talent can be wasted by poverty, family problems, or lack of access to cultivation resources.
• Resources and cultivation: Spirit Stones, techniques, and spiritual energy function as essential forms of wealth. Feng Jun’s willingness to spend his limited resources shows both generosity and the importance of practical investment.
• Persistence and mastery: Feng Jun’s hundreds of failed attempts emphasize that powerful techniques require patience, experimentation, and endurance.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Mi Yunshan’s arrival threatens Liu Feifei and Yu Changqing’s relationships with Feng Jun, creating subtle emotional competition within the group.
• Hidden power and ancient inheritance: The Lightning-Calling Technique’s connection to Nine Heavens Divine Thunder suggests that Feng Jun may have gained access to a much greater legacy than he initially realized.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun reassures Chen Junwei that Lang Zhen and Mi Yunshan can be trusted, while Chen remains worried about the Dust-Free Realm expert.
• Mi Yunshan’s attentive care causes Liu Feifei to feel displaced.
• Yu Changqing respectfully confronts Feng Jun about helping Mi Yunshan, leading to a discussion of talent, age, family hardship, and cultivation prospects.
• Feng Jun and Yu Changqing exchange crucial information about the Lightning-Calling Technique and its value.
• Yu Changqing supports Feng Jun’s training by guarding him and operating the Spirit-Gathering Array, while Feng Jun reciprocates by providing one of his precious Spirit Stones.
• The chapter ends with Feng Jun’s practice producing a dramatic reaction from the earth, implying that he has made a breakthrough or awakened the technique’s true power.

Chapter Summary: “Lightning Technique Initially Mastered”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun discovers that the Lightning-Calling Technique consumes far more spiritual energy than he initially realized. After several failed or unstable attempts, he learns that the technique has finally begun to manifest properly.
• He practices continuously for three days. Although the technique is difficult to control at first, he eventually gains enough mastery to strike targets accurately within a hundred meters.
• The Lightning-Calling Technique proves extremely powerful, capable of splitting a locomotive-sized boulder, but it is highly inefficient: Feng Jun can cast it only three times before exhausting nearly all his spiritual energy.
• Yu Changqing activates the Spirit-Gathering Array in the back courtyard so Feng Jun can rapidly restore his energy. Eight people share the array, with Mi Yunshan receiving a larger portion despite the others’ dissatisfaction.
• Feng Jun studies the Thunderclap Talisman, recognizing its similarities to the Lightning-Calling Technique and gaining new insights into both.
• During the night, Chen Junwei catches Yu Changzhu sneaking into Feng Jun’s bedroom disguised in women’s clothing. She claims she merely wanted to “discuss the Dao,” but her behavior clearly suggests romantic intentions. Feng Jun dismisses her and warns everyone to keep the incident secret.
• In the Phone Plane, Bao Ge’er asks Feng Jun about air conditioning. Feng Jun installs the first unit in Bao Ge’er’s residence, leading to the creation of the Phone Plane’s first air-conditioning installation team.
• Mi Yunshan spends five days cultivating within the Spirit-Gathering Array but fails to sense spiritual energy. Her intense effort leaves her physically weakened, prompting Feng Jun to consider establishing a larger spirit-gathering formation for her.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun makes significant progress in mastering the Lightning-Calling Technique. He becomes more aware of its strengths and weaknesses, particularly its overwhelming power, speed, and impressive appearance versus its enormous energy cost. His study of the Thunderclap Talisman also shows his growing ability to connect different forms of spiritual knowledge.
• Yu Changqing continues to support Feng Jun by providing access to the Spirit-Gathering Array. Her actions also subtly reassure Feng Jun that Mi Yunshan’s presence in the courtyard is not romantically threatening.
• Mi Yunshan demonstrates extraordinary determination by cultivating almost nonstop despite having no martial foundation. Her failure to sense spiritual energy reveals the limits of her current abilities, while her physical decline earns Feng Jun’s concern.
• Yu Changzhu openly reveals her romantic interest in Feng Jun through her nighttime intrusion and attempt to appear attractive. Her pride and impulsiveness remain evident, but she is also vulnerable and embarrassed when caught.
• Chen Junwei acts as a cautious protector of Feng Jun’s privacy. He catches Yu Changzhu but avoids looking at her or provoking the Yu Family unnecessarily.
• Bao Ge’er shows his practical and comfort-oriented nature by becoming the first person in the Phone Plane to install air conditioning.

Significant Themes

• Power versus efficiency: The Lightning-Calling Technique is far more dramatic and destructive than ordinary methods, but its immense energy consumption makes it inefficient.
• Mastery through experimentation: Feng Jun improves by repeatedly practicing, analyzing failures, and combining insights from different techniques.
• Social hierarchy and privilege: The Spirit-Gathering Array creates tension because certain people, especially Mi Yunshan and Chen Junsheng, receive more spiritual energy than others.
• Romantic misunderstandings and restrained desire: Yu Changzhu’s actions expose her feelings for Feng Jun, while Feng Jun tries to maintain boundaries and avoid damaging her reputation.
• Technology and cultivation: Feng Jun continues introducing modern conveniences, such as air conditioning, into the Phone Plane, blending technological innovation with the cultivation world.
• Promises and responsibility: Although Mi Yunshan fails to cultivate successfully, Feng Jun feels obligated to help her because he values his word.

Important Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Yu Changqing: She assists his training and warns him about his poor aim after one lightning strike nearly hits her.
• Feng Jun and Mi Yunshan: Their relationship causes gossip among the courtyard residents, though Feng Jun insists nothing improper exists between them. Her failed cultivation later prompts his concern.
• Feng Jun and Yu Changzhu: Their nighttime confrontation highlights her romantic pursuit and his exasperation. He rejects her implied advances while still treating her leniently.
• Chen Junwei and Yu Changzhu: Chen Junwei catches her intrusion but carefully avoids seeing her dressed in revealing clothing, fearing both embarrassment and conflict with the Yu Family.
• Feng Jun and Bao Ge’er: Their interaction expands Feng Jun’s influence in the Phone Plane, turning a personal invention into a new commercial service.

Chapter Summary: “Royal Bloodline”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Junwei returns to Feng Jun after successfully locating a royal descendant about a hundred li away.
• Feng Jun and Chen Junwei travel on foot to a secluded cliff area, where two Chen Family Martial Masters have captured a timid, overweight man named “Shopkeeper Huang.”
• The captive is revealed to possess royal blood as the illegitimate son of a deceased prince and a former courtesan. Although he appears to be an ordinary wealthy merchant, the prince’s manor had secretly protected him after his mother’s death.
• Feng Jun approves of the Chen Family’s cautious decision to keep the man alive rather than kill him after drawing his blood.
• After sending the Chen Family members away, Feng Jun knocks out the captive and uses modern medical equipment to draw approximately four hundred milliliters of blood.
• He spreads the blood over the mysterious wooden box, causing the royal cultivation method to appear. Because the writing is extremely small and fades as the blood coagulates, Feng Jun photographs and records the entire text rather than trying to memorize it.
• The captive is left alive and unharmed except for a needle mark, astonishing the Chen Family Martial Masters, who view Feng Jun’s technique as another sign of an Immortal’s unfathomable abilities.
• On the journey home, Chen Junwei asks about the cultivation method. Feng Jun offers the Chen Family a generator and lamps as compensation, but Chen Junwei declines, emphasizing the value of maintaining a relationship with Feng Jun.
• To repay the favor, Feng Jun offers to examine up to two hundred Chen Family members for potential immortal-cultivation aptitude, provided the matter remains confidential.
• Chen Junwei is delighted but conflicted because the Chen Family may not currently have any obvious candidates. He asks whether there is a time limit, and Feng Jun warns that he may eventually leave Zhige Mountain.
• Back at the courtyard, Feng Jun examines the recorded manual and realizes it is genuinely a royal secret technique: the Dragon-Phoenix Supreme Heart Method.
• Mi Yunshan enters with swollen, tearful eyes and asks Feng Jun whether she is useless, leaving him uncertain how to respond.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Demonstrates increasing comfort with both modern technology and the customs of the cultivation world. He remains reluctant to kill unnecessarily and tries to settle debts fairly, but he recognizes that personal favors can create burdensome obligations. His discovery of the royal technique excites and unsettles him.
• Chen Junwei: Proves himself reliable and capable, successfully arranging the capture of the royal descendant. He shows political maturity by refusing payment in favor of building a long-term connection with Feng Jun. His enthusiasm for the opportunity to identify immortal-cultivation talent reveals his concern for the Chen Family’s future.
• The captured royal descendant: Is characterized as cowardly, self-protective, and unaware—or at least outwardly unaware—of his royal lineage. His humble and fearful behavior contrasts sharply with the importance of his bloodline.
• Mi Yunshan: Appears emotionally distressed and insecure. Her question about being “useless” suggests she feels inadequate, possibly in comparison with other cultivators or because of recent personal setbacks.

3. Significant Themes

• Bloodline versus personal identity: The captive’s royal heritage is hidden beneath the appearance of an ordinary merchant, showing that status and ancestry may be concealed or disconnected from a person’s character.
• The value of connections and favors: Chen Junwei views association with Feng Jun as far more valuable than immediate material payment. The chapter emphasizes how relationships with powerful figures shape clan fortunes.
• Technology changing cultivation practices: Feng Jun uses syringes, cameras, and video recordings to safely obtain and preserve knowledge that the local world would normally access through crude and violent blood-drawing methods.
• Caution and moral restraint: Feng Jun and the Chen Family debate whether the captive should be killed. Feng Jun’s decision to spare him reflects a preference for minimizing harm despite his growing willingness to use lethal force when necessary.
• Hidden knowledge and opportunity: The royal manual represents a major breakthrough, while the possibility of identifying immortal-cultivation prospects offers the Chen Family a potentially transformative opportunity.
• Insecurity and self-worth: Mi Yunshan’s emotional collapse introduces a personal counterpoint to the chapter’s political and cultivation-related developments.

4. Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Chen Junwei: Their cooperation deepens into a mutually beneficial relationship. Chen Junwei provides access to the royal descendant, while Feng Jun offers both compensation and a rare aptitude-assessment opportunity.
• Feng Jun and the Chen Family Martial Masters: Feng Jun’s calm approval reassures the captors that sparing the royal descendant was acceptable. His painless blood-drawing method reinforces their awe and fear of him.
• Feng Jun and the captive: Feng Jun treats him as a means of accessing the royal manual but does not injure or kill him, reflecting his practical yet restrained morality.
• Chen Junwei and Feng Jun: Chen Junwei’s refusal of payment and Feng Jun’s counteroffer reveal mutual respect, though Feng Jun remains wary of accumulating debts.
• Feng Jun and Mi Yunshan: Their final interaction is emotionally charged and unresolved. Mi Yunshan seeks reassurance, while Feng Jun is distracted by the newly revealed royal secret manual and struggles to understand how to respond.

Chapter Summary: “A Little Modesty Is Necessary”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun confirms that the cultivation manual found in the wooden box is the Dragon-Phoenix Supreme Heart Method, a complete royal technique capable of advancing cultivators from Mortal Transcendence to the Dust-Free Realm.
• The method is paired with the Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Harnessing Harmony Canon, making both manuals dual-cultivation techniques. The box explains that the technique originated from the Donghua royal family but was later abandoned after the dynasty adopted a more health-oriented cultivation method.
• The technique eventually reached the Hundred Flowers Pavilion through its first master, a former palace maid expelled from the royal family. The box does not explain how the pavilion was later destroyed.
• Feng Jun considers using the Dragon-Phoenix method to help Mi Yunshan, who has failed to enter the Mortal Transcendence realm after five days of trying the ordinary Five-Element Mortal Transcendence Technique.
• He realizes that dual cultivation would allow Mi Yunshan to overcome her age and aptitude limitations, but he hesitates because he does not actually feel romantic affection for her and is uncomfortable treating her as an experiment for the benefit of women in the Blue Star Realm.
• Seeing Mi Yunshan’s despair and uncontrollable crying, Feng Jun finally agrees to help her. He orders her to rest, regain emotional stability, and keep the matter secret because the technique could reveal his connection to the Donghua royal legacy.
• After leaving the Phone Plane, Feng Jun responds to Hao Fengjing’s messages. Instead of continuing to hide the fact that Sister Hong is with him, he openly tells Hao Fengjing that she is present.
• He then flirts with Hao Fengjing, suggesting that he misses her and has a “new surprise.” Their teasing turns toward the possibility of intimate activities involving both Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes increasingly self-aware about his moral contradictions. He recognizes that he has been treating people from the Phone Plane as less important than those from the Blue Star Realm and questions whether using Mi Yunshan as a cultivation experiment is ethically justified.
• His compassion overcomes his reluctance when he sees Mi Yunshan’s emotional collapse. Although he remains impatient with her tears, he promises to help her enter Mortal Transcendence.
• Feng Jun also adopts a more direct attitude toward his relationships. Rather than concealing Sister Hong’s presence from Hao Fengjing, he chooses openness and decides that people should either accept his complicated life or leave.
• Mi Yunshan, once regarded as a fallen genius and clan embarrassment, shifts from despair to cautious hope after Feng Jun promises to save her cultivation prospects. Despite her emotional weakness, she shows loyalty and discretion by agreeing not to reveal the secret.
• Hao Fengjing reacts with surprise and uncertainty when she learns Sister Hong is present, but her playful and flirtatious nature quickly returns.

Significant Themes

• Ethical responsibility and equality: Feng Jun struggles with whether people from another world deserve the same consideration as those from his homeland.
• Power and exploitation: His plan to use Mi Yunshan as experimental data for helping others raises questions about whether assistance can remain selfless when it also serves the helper’s goals.
• Secrecy and dangerous knowledge: The royal cultivation techniques are politically sensitive, and revealing them could expose Feng Jun’s inheritance and place him in danger.
• Emotional vulnerability: Mi Yunshan’s tears initially frustrate Feng Jun but ultimately awaken his compassion, showing the influence of genuine human suffering.
• Honesty in relationships: Feng Jun grows tired of manipulating information among Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong, choosing blunt honesty even while continuing to maintain a complicated romantic arrangement.
• Contrast between worlds: The violence and danger of the Phone Plane make the relatively peaceful Blue Star Realm feel especially comforting to Feng Jun.

Important Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Mi Yunshan: Their exchange moves from awkward hesitation to reassurance. Mi Yunshan’s despair and dependence pressure Feng Jun into promising help, while he warns her to recover emotionally and protect the secret.
• Feng Jun and Hao Fengjing: Their Liaoliao conversation combines honesty, jealousy, and sexual teasing. Feng Jun reveals that Sister Hong is with him, then attempts to reassure Hao Fengjing by expressing desire for her and hinting at a new intimate experience.
• Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong: Although they do not interact directly in the chapter, their presence together creates tension in Feng Jun’s romantic life. Hao Fengjing’s teasing response suggests both awareness and curiosity about their relationship.
• Feng Jun and his Blue Star companions: Sister Hong, Hao Fengjing, and others remain central to his plans because he hopes to use Mi Yunshan’s cultivation results to develop safer methods for helping them achieve immortality.

Chapter Summary: “Real and Fake”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun lures Hao Fengjing to Luohua Manor by promising her a major surprise. She arrives in the afternoon but deliberately avoids spending much time with Sister Hong.
• Sister Hong, already at the manor, becomes jealous when Feng Jun takes Hao Fengjing directly to the Bamboo Grove—a place Sister Hong has never entered.
• In the Bamboo Grove, Feng Jun and Hao Fengjing enjoy tea and fruit while Xu Leigang cultivates nearby, following Feng Jun’s rule that disciples should not be disturbed during cultivation.
• A Crow King attacks a Bamboo Pit Viper. When the crow calls for help, Feng Jun kills the snake with a casual burst of finger force, allowing the crow to carry it away.
• The incident gives Feng Jun an opportunity to reveal that cultivation is real and that he possesses abilities beyond those of an ordinary person.
• Hao Fengjing becomes interested in learning cultivation, especially after Feng Jun claims it can improve her appearance. However, she asks whether she can teach the technique to others, prompting Feng Jun to firmly refuse unless she promises to keep it secret.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Shows confidence and deliberate charm in persuading Hao Fengjing to visit. He uses the snake incident to demonstrate his cultivation without appearing to boast. He also reveals that he is willing to teach Hao Fengjing because of his personal regard for her, but becomes serious when she suggests sharing the technique.
• Hao Fengjing: Initially pretends to resist Feng Jun’s invitation but is clearly attracted by his attention. She demonstrates courage and practicality, quickly accepting the existence of cultivation. Though she claims to prefer comfort and pleasure over hardship, her desire to remain beautiful and distinguish herself from Sister Hong makes her seriously consider cultivating.
• Sister Hong: Displays jealousy and possessiveness toward Feng Jun. She resents Hao Fengjing’s familiarity with the Bamboo Grove and privately insults her, but chooses not to follow them because of the heat and her belief that nothing improper will happen.
• Xu Leigang: Remains completely focused on cultivation, ignoring the visitors and the fight between the crow and snake. His discipline highlights the seriousness of the cultivation system.
• Crow King: Acts intelligently, calling on Feng Jun for assistance when it begins to lose against the snake, reinforcing its unusual bond with him.

Significant Themes

• Real versus fake: The title reflects the contrast between Hao Fengjing’s outward displays of restraint and her genuine interest in Feng Jun, as well as the difference between ordinary appearances and the hidden reality of cultivation.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Sister Hong and Hao Fengjing compete indirectly for Feng Jun’s attention, with the Bamboo Grove symbolizing intimacy and privileged access.
• Desire for beauty and longevity: Hao Fengjing’s reluctance to endure hardship reflects her hedonistic outlook, but her fear of aging and limited life makes cultivation attractive.
• Trust and secrecy: Feng Jun’s willingness to teach Hao Fengjing is a personal privilege, but he insists that cultivation cannot be shared freely.
• Nature and balance: The Bamboo Grove has developed into a self-contained ecosystem. Feng Jun accepts the presence of predators such as snakes because they help maintain the grove’s natural order.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun playfully persuades Hao Fengjing to come, exploiting her curiosity and attraction to him.
• Sister Hong behaves politely toward Hao Fengjing on the surface, but her internal jealousy reveals tension beneath the interaction.
• Feng Jun escorts Hao Fengjing away from Sister Hong, making Hao Fengjing feel valued while further provoking Sister Hong’s resentment.
• Feng Jun uses the crow-and-snake encounter to impress Hao Fengjing and introduce her to cultivation.
• Hao Fengjing questions Feng Jun about the practical benefits of cultivation, while Feng Jun shifts from humor to seriousness when discussing its secrecy and value.

Chapter Summary: Differences Between Cultivation Methods

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun gives Hao Fengjing the complete version of the Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Harnessing Harmony Canon, including its Inner Qi circulation diagram.
• He reveals that the method is not merely a form of yoga but a genuine cultivation technique capable of preserving youth. Without the circulation method, it only improves health and appearance.
• After studying the complicated diagram and asking Feng Jun numerous questions, Hao Fengjing cultivates the complete method for the first time.
• She successfully generates Inner Breath/Inner Qi on her first attempt, thanks to her previous yoga practice, time spent in the Bamboo Grove, and improved physical condition.
• Feng Jun warns her not to reveal the technique to his other disciples or pass it on without permission.
• He explains that Hao Fengjing’s method differs from the martial cultivation methods used by his male disciples.
• After returning to the manor, Hao Fengjing eats with the others, teaches Li Shishi music, and remains energetic late into the night.
• Feng Jun discusses developing a Contribution Point System with Li Xiaobin, disguising its true purpose as a game-related database.
• Near dawn, Feng Jun gives Hao Fengjing half of a Body-Tempering Pill and tells her it will greatly assist cultivation, though it will cause intense pain.

Character Developments

• Hao Fengjing changes from outward skepticism to genuine excitement and commitment. Though she initially mocks the idea of eternal youth, she eagerly studies the technique and successfully cultivates Inner Qi.
• Her relationship with Feng Jun becomes more emotionally intimate. She worries about whether he will continue to care for her and is reassured when he promises to preserve her youth and remain with her.
• Hao Fengjing also shows jealousy regarding Sister Hong and Feng Jun’s other women, despite previously pretending to be indifferent.
• Feng Jun demonstrates careful judgment and protectiveness. He deliberately gives Hao Fengjing only one cultivation method so she will not overextend herself, and he emphasizes secrecy because of the technique’s potential value.
• Gazi and Xu Leigang continue their cultivation but begin recognizing that pursuing speed in the Bamboo Grove may destabilize their realms and strain their bodies.
• Li Shishi grows closer to Hao Fengjing through their shared interest in music.
• Li Xiaobin accepts Feng Jun’s vague explanation about the Contribution Point System, recognizing that he is hiding something but choosing to focus on the paid work.

Significant Themes

• Different paths of cultivation: Men are encouraged to cultivate martial arts before pursuing the Dao, while women may cultivate the Dao directly through a gentler, auxiliary method.
• Secrecy and responsibility: Feng Jun stresses that cultivation techniques must not be shared casually because they could attract government attention or cause serious consequences if leaked.
• Youth, beauty, and immortality: Hao Fengjing’s method emphasizes preservation, elegance, and longevity rather than physical combat or hardship.
• Intimacy and possessiveness: Cultivation becomes intertwined with Feng Jun’s romantic relationships, especially his desire to keep Hao Fengjing youthful and close to him.
• The dangers of excessive progress: The disciples begin to understand that faster cultivation is not necessarily better if it harms the body or destabilizes one’s realm.
• Hidden power beneath ordinary life: Feng Jun continues using mundane explanations, such as calling the contribution system a game database, to conceal his supernatural resources.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun patiently explains the cultivation method while Hao Fengjing repeatedly questions the Inner Qi circulation diagram.
• He teases and seduces her into practicing the “new yoga method,” after which she successfully produces Inner Qi.
• Hao Fengjing asks whether her technique can “hide the mat,” meaning whether it represents true cultivation rather than ordinary exercise. Feng Jun confirms that she is cultivating the Dao directly.
• Their discussion about Sister Hong and the other disciples reveals Hao Fengjing’s jealousy and Feng Jun’s attempt to reassure her of her special status.
• At the manor, Hao Fengjing and Li Shishi bond through music while Feng Jun works with Li Xiaobin on the contribution database.
• The chapter ends with Feng Jun offering Hao Fengjing a Body-Tempering Pill, testing whether she is willing to endure physical suffering for faster cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “A Shortcut to Transformation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hao Fengjing takes a Marrow Cleansing and Tendon Transformation pill from Feng Jun, confidently claiming she can endure the pain. She prepares to bathe while taking the medicine, unaware that the treatment will cause her body to expel a large amount of foul, sticky impurities.
• Feng Jun leaves the room to spare her embarrassment. Soon afterward, Sister Hong emerges in a bathrobe, having been awakened by the noise and drinking wine because she was suspicious and jealous of Feng Jun’s relationship with Hao Fengjing.
• While drinking beer and wine together, Sister Hong learns that Hao Fengjing is cultivating. Feeling left behind, she asks Feng Jun to teach her the same Daoist arts.
• Feng Jun demonstrates his supernatural ability by making a sniper rifle appear and disappear from thin air. Shocked, Sister Hong realizes his abilities are genuine and agrees to keep them secret.
• Feng Jun tells Sister Hong that her yoga practice is the first step toward cultivation, though she suspects he is merely taking advantage of her. He also promises that Daoist cultivation can preserve her youthful appearance indefinitely.
• Intrigued by the promise of eternal youth, Sister Hong declares that she will stay with Feng Jun for the rest of her life. Their teasing conversation turns flirtatious, and Feng Jun carries her toward the room.
• Meanwhile, Hao Fengjing locks herself in the bathroom because the pill has covered her body in impurities. She refuses to let Feng Jun see her disheveled state. When the room next door becomes quiet, Feng Jun considers checking on her but ultimately continues with his plans.
• Feng Jun decides to focus on helping Hao Fengjing reach the Mortal Transcendence realm before returning to the Phone Plane.
• The chapter explains the relationship between martial cultivation and Daoist cultivation. Normally, internal energy and spiritual energy cannot coexist easily, but the Dragon-Phoenix Supreme Heart Method and Dragon Soaring, Phoenix Harnessing Harmony Canon can work together.
• Practitioners with poor spiritual aptitude can first cultivate internal energy through martial arts, then use the Heart Method to transform that internal energy into spiritual energy, effectively creating a shortcut into immortal cultivation.

Character Developments

• Hao Fengjing begins the physical transformation necessary for cultivation. Her confidence gives way to embarrassment when the pill’s effects make her appearance unbearable, showing that vanity and modesty remain important to her.
• Feng Jun becomes more deliberate in developing his disciples and cultivation plans. He intends to help Hao Fengjing advance rapidly and recognizes the usefulness of combining martial and Daoist methods.
• Sister Hong shifts from jealousy and insecurity to determination. Seeing Feng Jun’s powers and hearing that cultivation can preserve her youth, she actively demands the chance to cultivate rather than remaining an outsider.
• Sister Hong’s strong, teasing personality remains intact, but beneath her sarcasm is a fear of aging and being surpassed by younger women such as Hao Fengjing and Cai Xin.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and sacrifice: Hao Fengjing must endure pain, discomfort, and humiliation to improve her body and begin cultivation.
• Youth and beauty: Sister Hong’s desire to remain young motivates her decision to pursue Daoist arts, emphasizing her anxiety about age and competition.
• Jealousy and emotional rivalry: Sister Hong resents Hao Fengjing’s growing closeness to Feng Jun and her access to cultivation, though she masks her feelings with sarcasm.
• Trust and secrecy: Feng Jun only teaches those he believes will protect his secrets. Sister Hong’s willingness to keep quiet earns her access to supernatural knowledge.
• Integration of cultivation paths: The chapter introduces the idea that martial and immortal cultivation are not always incompatible. Certain techniques allow internal energy to be converted into spiritual energy, lowering the barrier to advancement.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Hao Fengjing exchange lighthearted but intimate banter before her transformation begins; afterward, her embarrassment contrasts with his concern and discretion.
• Feng Jun and Sister Hong engage in flirtatious teasing. She accuses him of favoring Hao Fengjing and exploiting her, while he counters with jokes about her vulgarity, uniqueness, and attractiveness.
• Sister Hong’s jealousy is softened by her admiration for Feng Jun’s abilities and her desire to gain the same opportunities as Hao Fengjing.
• Feng Jun uses humor and promises of eternal youth to redirect Sister Hong’s jealousy into enthusiasm for cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “Slow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun reflects on paired cultivation techniques such as Dragon-Phoenix Supreme and Soaring Dragon, Taming Phoenix. Though such methods are considered impractical because they are meant for cultivators with limited potential, he realizes they are ideal for helping people on the Blue Star Realm cultivate.
• His immediate concern is helping Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong develop enough cultivation to accompany him. Hao Fengjing must ideally reach Mid-Rank Martial Warrior before converting internal power into spiritual energy.
• Hao Fengjing’s progress is frustratingly slow. After two weeks, she remains a Beginner Martial Warrior and refuses to take more than half a Body-Tempering Pill every two weeks because she finds the treatment undignified.
• Sister Hong is also busy with her jade business, social obligations, and the Hongjie Club, limiting her visits to Luohua Manor. However, she is more decisive about cultivation: she requests a Body-Tempering Pill before even beginning Internal Power cultivation and divides it into two doses.
• Feng Jun delays giving Sister Hong the complete paired cultivation technique so he can use Hao Fengjing as a test case and correct any flaws first. If Hao Fengjing cannot reach Mid-Rank Martial Warrior by the third weekend, he plans to seek another solution.
• Dou Jiahui calls Feng Jun to invite him on a trip to the Southern Region to inspect a poultry business and other possible investment opportunities. Feng Jun is uncertain because he must divide his time between the two worlds, stabilize his own cultivation, and manage growing problems at both Zhige Mountain and Luohua Manor.
• Feng Jun’s successful treatment of Old Madam Jiang has caused residents of Peach Blossom Valley to flock to Luohua Manor, hoping he will return and treat them. They apologize for previously offending him, but Feng Jun refuses to meet them and instead enjoys watching their awkward visits through surveillance cameras.
• Sister Hong visits Luohua Manor again, and after practicing yoga with Feng Jun in the Bamboo Grove, she encourages him to accept Dou Jiahui’s invitation. She suggests that he also visit Yi City, where she could hold a jade exhibition. Her suggestion leaves Feng Jun visibly conflicted.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Becomes increasingly concerned with building a reliable cultivation team and balancing responsibilities across both planes. He recognizes that his own rapid cultivation has given him unrealistic expectations for others. He also displays a mischievous, detached side by taking pleasure in the Peach Blossom Valley residents’ desperation.
• Hao Fengjing: Remains eager to cultivate but progresses slowly and is unwilling to endure frequent Body-Tempering Pill treatments. Her domestic troubles with her mother-in-law further interfere with her training.
• Sister Hong: Shows a stronger and more practical commitment to cultivation than Hao Fengjing. She is willing to take the Body-Tempering Pill and enthusiastically practices yoga, while also maintaining her busy social and business life.
• Dou Jiahui: Demonstrates independence and ambition by seeking opportunities outside Cloud Garden City. He trusts Feng Jun deeply and views him as a reliable business partner and brother.
• Old Madam Jiang: Her dramatic recovery becomes public proof of Feng Jun’s abilities, unintentionally attracting many new petitioners.
• Peach Blossom Valley residents: Their attitude shifts from hostility or indifference to apology and desperate admiration after witnessing Old Madam Jiang’s recovery.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and aptitude: The chapter contrasts innate talent, age, discipline, and access to resources. Techniques considered useless by elite cultivators may be extremely valuable in another environment.
• Patience versus unrealistic expectations: Feng Jun expects rapid progress because of his own extraordinary cultivation and the success of his male subordinates, but Hao Fengjing’s slow advancement forces him to reconsider those expectations.
• Time and competing responsibilities: Feng Jun’s greatest resource is time, yet he must constantly choose how to divide it between cultivation, business, friends, and the two planes.
• Reputation and social reversal: Old Madam Jiang’s recovery transforms Feng Jun from someone previously rejected by Peach Blossom Valley into a sought-after healer. The residents’ apologies highlight how quickly people’s attitudes change when they recognize someone’s value.
• Power, dependence, and exclusivity: Feng Jun controls access to cultivation, healing, and Luohua Manor. His refusal to meet the Peach Blossom Valley residents shows that he now has the power to deny those who once looked down on him.
• Partnership and mutual benefit: Feng Jun’s relationships with Dou Jiahui and Sister Hong combine personal loyalty with business and cultivation interests.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun repeatedly evaluates Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong as potential cultivation partners, comparing their progress and commitment.
• Hao Fengjing’s mother-in-law indirectly disrupts her relationship with Feng Jun and prevents her from training regularly at Luohua Manor.
• Feng Jun plans to use Hao Fengjing’s cultivation experience to improve Sister Hong’s training, making Hao Fengjing an unwitting test case.
• Dou Jiahui asks Feng Jun to accompany him on a business inspection, relying on their close brotherly relationship.
• Sister Hong and Feng Jun share an intimate, relaxed evening after yoga. While lying together in the Bamboo Grove, she encourages him to travel with Dou Jiahui and proposes combining the trip with her own jade exhibition in Yi City.
• Feng Jun observes the Peach Blossom Valley visitors through surveillance cameras rather than meeting them, emphasizing his control over the situation and his lingering resentment.

Chapter Summary: “Leave It to Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun agrees to travel south with Sister Hong and invites Hao Fengjing, despite initially avoiding Yi City because it is associated with his first love, Zhang Yunzhen.
• The group flies to Bud City, where they reunite with Dou Jiahui and his cousin, Dong. Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong arrange vehicles through their personal connections, making travel easier.
• The travelers split their time between leisure and business: Sister Hong and Hao Fengjing shop and sightsee, while Feng Jun accompanies Dou Jiahui as he investigates business opportunities.
• Dou Jiahui explores becoming a lighting-equipment agent. Major brands direct him to provincial agents, while smaller companies demand high deposits and offer little support, leaving him discouraged.
• The group eventually travels to Yi City, where Dou Jiahui meets a lighting company called White Night.
• White Night offers city-level agency rights under demanding conditions: a 100,000-yuan deposit, 300,000 yuan in initial inventory, and annual sales targets of one million yuan. The company places most market-development risks on the agent.
• Dou Jiahui criticizes the company’s crude business model and considers leaving. Feng Jun, unwilling to see his friend accept humiliation or abandon the opportunity, confidently assures him that reaching the sales target will be easy and offers to take responsibility for any shortfall.
• Encouraged by Feng Jun’s support, Dou Jiahui agrees to sign the deal.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun reflects on his past with Zhang Yunzhen and recognizes that his former life suffered from poor priorities and an inability to balance career ambitions with personal relationships. Although Yi City still carries memories, he no longer feels emotionally trapped by them.
• Feng Jun demonstrates greater emotional maturity and loyalty. He supports Dou Jiahui not merely with money, but by restoring his confidence and dignity when the company treats him dismissively.
• Dou Jiahui shows ambition and practical business knowledge, particularly in understanding branding, market positioning, commercial renovation, and sales channels. However, repeated rejection makes him doubt himself. His trust in Feng Jun ultimately gives him the courage to proceed.
• Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong appear confident, socially connected, and energetic. Their easy access to vehicles and their enthusiasm for shopping highlight their independence and strong personalities.
• The White Night representative is polite, controlled, and subtly provocative. Her rigid terms and repeated emphasis on “strength” reveal the company’s belief that capable agents should prove themselves through results.

Significant Themes

• Moving beyond the past: Feng Jun’s reluctance to visit Yi City reflects his old emotional wounds, but his eventual return suggests he is no longer controlled by them.
• Loyalty and brotherhood: Feng Jun’s intervention shows that friendship involves protecting another person’s confidence and reputation, not simply providing financial assistance.
• Strength and business competition: White Night’s philosophy is that results determine respect. The chapter explores whether this harsh, risk-heavy approach rewards genuine ability or unfairly transfers risk to weaker partners.
• Entrepreneurship and calculated risk: Dou Jiahui must decide whether the opportunity is worth the large investment. Feng Jun’s confidence changes the deal from an intimidating gamble into a manageable challenge.
• Different approaches to life: The women pursue leisure and enjoyment, while the men focus on work and business, yet the groups coexist comfortably and maintain strong relationships.

Character Interactions

• Sister Hong notices Feng Jun’s discomfort about Yi City and accepts his desire to avoid it, showing sensitivity toward his past.
• Feng Jun invites Hao Fengjing despite expecting her to decline; her immediate decision to join reveals her attachment to the group and willingness to share their experiences.
• Dou Jiahui relies on Feng Jun as a trusted adviser, openly discussing his frustrations and business plans over drinks.
• The White Night representative challenges Dou Jiahui indirectly by questioning his capabilities through strict requirements and limited support.
• Feng Jun addresses Dou Jiahui formally as “President Dou” and publicly endorses the opportunity, signaling respect and strengthening his friend’s confidence.
• The chapter ends with Dou Jiahui accepting the agency deal because he trusts Feng Jun’s judgment and backing.

Chapter Summary: “Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dou Jiahui, nicknamed Er Pang, prepares to secure a city-level agency for a lighting-decor company. Although he is attracted to Lin Xiaojia, the company representative, he prioritizes business and does not mix romance with commercial interests.
• Lin Xiaojia explains that the one-million-yuan annual sales requirement is only the minimum threshold and asks whether they should proceed with the contract.
• Dou Jiahui privately advises Feng Jun to consider whether supporting the agency would interfere with his own business. Feng reveals that his estate and his mysterious Phone Plane have enormous demand for lighting products, making the one-million-yuan quota easy to fulfill.
• Feng agrees to provide only the baseline demand needed to help Dou obtain the agency, emphasizing that Dou must still develop the market himself. Dou understands that Feng is protecting his pride, though he feels discouraged that Feng can accomplish so casually what he worked hard to achieve.
• Dou and Feng return to Lin Xiaojia and reserve the Cloud Garden City agency. They exchange contact information, and Lin gives them company-branded leather gifts.
• The atmosphere changes when Feng encounters Mr. Zhou, the maternal uncle of his former girlfriend, Zhang Yunzhen. Zhou had previously opposed their relationship, believing Feng was poor and unworthy of his niece.
• Zhou returns with Lin Xiaojia’s “Third Uncle” and publicly claims that Feng cannot afford the agency because he once could not even afford an apartment.
• Dou angrily defends Feng, criticizing the company for allowing an outsider to interfere in their business discussion. Third Uncle offers a seemingly polite apology but maintains an ambiguous, probing attitude toward Feng.
• Feng recognizes the renewed hostility and sarcastically asks whether Third Uncle is taking over Lin Xiaojia’s work, setting up a tense confrontation.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Demonstrates loyalty and generosity toward Dou while carefully preserving his friend’s independence and dignity. He remains calm and dismissive when confronted by Zhou, showing that his former poverty and relationship troubles no longer define him.
• Dou Jiahui: Shows business judgment by warning Feng not to sign impulsively, but also proves fiercely loyal. He becomes protective and confrontational when Zhou insults Feng, revealing the strength of their brotherly bond.
• Lin Xiaojia: Initially treats the men as prospective business partners and becomes more cordial after the agency agreement is reached. Her attitude grows uncertain once she realizes there is a personal conflict involving Feng.
• Mr. Zhou: Remains arrogant and class-conscious. He attempts to undermine Feng by exposing his former financial struggles and past relationship with Zhang Yunzhen.
• Third Uncle: Appears outwardly courteous but seems to support Zhou’s interference and is likely evaluating Feng’s background and credibility.

Significant Themes

• Brotherhood and loyalty: Feng helps Dou without taking over his business, while Dou immediately defends Feng against personal humiliation.
• Pride and self-worth: Dou struggles with the gap between his hard work and Feng’s effortless financial support, though he recognizes Feng’s consideration.
• Money and social status: Zhou’s contempt is rooted in Feng’s former poverty, highlighting how wealth influences romantic approval and business credibility.
• Business versus personal relationships: Dou consciously separates attraction from business, while the business meeting becomes complicated by old emotional and family conflicts.
• The past confronting the present: Feng’s former relationship resurfaces just as he is entering a new phase of wealth and influence.

Character Interactions

• Dou and Feng privately discuss the agency, with Feng reassuring Dou that his support is limited to fulfilling the minimum quota.
• Dou and Lin establish preliminary business contact, while Lin appears mildly interested in Feng as well.
• Zhou attempts to discredit Feng in front of Lin Xiaojia and Third Uncle by invoking his past poverty.
• Dou confronts Lin’s company over Zhou’s interference, while Feng responds to Third Uncle’s indirect hostility with sarcasm.
• The chapter ends with the business negotiation overshadowed by an unresolved clash between Feng and the people connected to his former relationship.

Chapter Summary: “From Arrogance to Deference”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A business meeting between Dou Jiahui, Feng Jun’s group, and White Night turns hostile when Third Uncle Lin and Mr. Zhou question Dou’s ability to pay and imply that the company may be deceived.
• Lin Xiaojia defends the negotiations and reveals that she has already authorized favorable terms: a 100,000 deposit, 300,000 worth of stock, and a guaranteed sales volume of one million.
• Once Third Uncle realizes the deal is legitimate and within Xiaojia’s authority, he quickly withdraws his objections. However, Dou remains offended by the earlier insults and threatens to reconsider cooperation.
• Third Uncle attempts to soften the situation by explaining that better terms would be available only for a larger client with stronger sales performance, but Dou interprets this as continued insincerity and leaves.
• Lin Xiaojia follows the men outside to apologize and salvage the deal, while Third Uncle and Mr. Zhou watch them depart in Feng Jun’s luxury Road Tyrant.
• In the car, Dou continues criticizing White Night’s behavior. Feng Jun explains that Third Uncle is related to his former girlfriend and reflects on how her family once demanded that he have both a promising future and substantial wealth in the present.
• Dou insists that they stop working with White Night, but Feng says he will support whichever manufacturer Dou chooses. He admits he was partly trying to create an opportunity for Dou and Lin Xiaojia because he believed she liked Dou.
• The conversation turns into playful teasing about Feng Jun’s popularity and wealth. Dou jokingly threatens to abandon the competition when Cousin Dong points out that he cannot compete financially with Feng.
• Lin Xiaojia later video-calls Dou, explaining that her uncle’s behavior was an accident and outside her control. She invites the group to dinner, especially seeking Feng Jun’s forgiveness.
• Dou pretends Feng is merely his driver, while Feng asks whether White Night has any reliable partner companies. Lin Xiaojia agrees to discuss the matter over dinner.
• Lin hosts the banquet, but Feng does not attend, choosing instead to spend time with two women. Dou is left to handle the business relationship alone.

Character Developments

• Dou Jiahui demonstrates loyalty and pride. He refuses to tolerate insults toward Feng Jun and is willing to abandon an otherwise attractive business deal to defend his brother.
• Feng Jun appears confident and financially powerful, but his reflections reveal lingering resentment toward his former girlfriend’s family. He wants them to recognize how far he has risen, even while pretending not to care.
• Lin Xiaojia emerges as a competent but politically constrained businesswoman. She has authority over the deal yet must balance her own commercial judgment with family hierarchy. She actively tries to repair the damage caused by her uncle.
• Third Uncle Lin shifts from arrogance to caution once he understands the deal’s value. His concern for family dignity and business politics makes him initially confrontational, but he quickly becomes deferential when the transaction proves worthwhile.
• Mr. Zhou remains openly contemptuous of Feng Jun and skeptical of Dou’s status, revealing his personal bias and resentment.
• Cousin Dong provides blunt commentary and comic relief, while also reminding Dou that Feng’s wealth gives him a decisive advantage.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance versus deference: Third Uncle and Mr. Zhou initially look down on Dou and Feng, but their attitude changes once they recognize the financial strength behind the deal.
• Family conflict in business: White Night’s internal disagreements reflect differing business philosophies among the Lin family shareholders.
• Loyalty over profit: Dou prioritizes defending Feng Jun over securing favorable commercial terms.
• Past humiliation and present success: Feng’s wealth and status contrast sharply with how his former girlfriend’s family treated him, highlighting his desire for vindication.
• Pride and emotional avoidance: Feng claims indifference toward his former relationship while clearly caring about how her family views him.
• Business relationships and personal feelings: The negotiations are complicated by family ties, romantic speculation, and old resentments.

Character Interactions

• Dou clashes directly with Third Uncle and Mr. Zhou, refusing to accept their condescending treatment.
• Lin Xiaojia argues with her uncle but restrains herself because of family hierarchy, then later apologizes to Dou and seeks Feng’s forgiveness.
• Feng and Dou maintain a teasing but deeply loyal friendship, with Dou acting as Feng’s defender and Feng joking about Dou’s romantic and financial disadvantages.
• Cousin Dong joins their banter, often making blunt observations that undercut Dou’s complaints.
• Feng’s history with Lin Xiaojia’s family shapes the entire encounter, even though he remains mostly detached from the later dinner.

Chapter Summary: “Lacking Mainly in Leg Length”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun suggests that Dou Jiahui seek introductions to White Night Company’s partner firms, especially upstream suppliers or competing decorative-lighting companies.
• Lin Xiaojia initially claims she only knows upstream suppliers, but Dou Jiahui sees through her reluctance and directly asks for introductions.
• The dispute escalates when Dou explains that White Night’s employee, Zhou Zhendong, offended Feng Jun. Because Feng is both his close friend and business associate, Dou refuses to cooperate with a company that disrespected him.
• Dou offers Lin a commission and hints that future orders for White Night are still possible if she helps him, placing her in a difficult position between personal pride, family business interests, and industry loyalty.
• Lin becomes curious about Feng Jun’s wealth and status, partly because she had been attracted to him. Dou deliberately discourages her interest by mentioning that Feng is currently accompanied by two exceptionally beautiful women.
• Lin agrees to introduce Dou to other decorative-lighting firms in exchange for meeting Feng’s companions. She, Dou, and Cousin Dong meet Feng, Hao Fengjing, and Sister Hong by the river.
• Lin is deeply embarrassed and discouraged when Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong’s height, figures, and polished manner make her feel inferior—especially because she believes she is “lacking mainly in leg length.”
• After Lin leaves, upset, she reports the incident to her father. Her parents recognize the potential value of Dou’s business and pressure the family to repair relations.
• Third Uncle Lin orders Lin to invite Dou to lunch and promises to apologize to Feng Jun. He also invites Zhou Zhendong to the gathering, but Zhou angrily refuses.

2. Character Developments

• Dou Jiahui: Becomes more assertive and strategic. He defends Feng Jun firmly, uses the possibility of future business to pressure Lin, and negotiates an exchange: introductions for access to Feng’s companions. His confidence and loyalty become clearer.
• Lin Xiaojia: Reveals her pride, competitive nature, and conflicted feelings. She is unwilling to betray her company, yet cannot afford to lose a potentially valuable client. Her curiosity about Feng turns into embarrassment and disappointment after meeting the other women.
• Feng Jun: Remains mostly offstage but gains importance through others’ reactions. His wealth, influence, close friendships, and association with two impressive women increase Lin’s perception of his status.
• Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong: Their physical presence, confidence, and professional bearing unintentionally overwhelm Lin and emphasize the gap between her self-image and her insecurity.
• Third Uncle Lin: Realizes that his interference with Feng Jun threatens a profitable business opportunity and quickly changes tactics, ordering an apology banquet.
• Zhou Zhendong: Remains arrogant and resistant to admitting fault. Despite the family’s attempt to repair matters, he refuses to apologize or attend the banquet.
• Lin Xiaojia’s parents: Take a pragmatic business view, emphasizing that even a single million-yuan order could become much larger if expanded across cities or provinces.

3. Significant Themes

• Business interests versus personal pride: Lin struggles between defending her company and preserving a relationship with a promising client.
• Loyalty and respect: Dou’s refusal to cooperate with White Night centers not on the company’s products, but on its disrespect toward Feng Jun.
• Status and social influence: Wealth, connections, appearance, and professional bearing strongly affect how characters judge one another.
• Competition and cooperation: Rival companies in the lighting industry may compete while still relying on introductions and business relationships.
• Family and corporate politics: Lin’s decisions are constrained by the fact that White Night belongs to her family, forcing her to manage conflicts created by older relatives.
• Appearance and insecurity: Lin’s confidence collapses when she compares herself physically and socially with Feng Jun’s companions, particularly their height and long legs.
• Accountability and refusal to apologize: The family attempts to correct its mistake, but Zhou’s arrogance threatens to prolong the conflict.

4. Character Interactions

• Dou and Lin Xiaojia: Their dinner conversation shifts from polite negotiation to open confrontation, with Dou challenging Lin’s excuses and Lin trying to protect her company’s interests.
• Dou and Cousin Dong: Dou jokingly ranks Feng Jun above Cousin Dong in importance, prompting Cousin Dong to confirm that Dou and Feng truly share a close bond.
• Dou and Feng Jun: Though Feng is absent from the negotiation, Dou repeatedly acts on his behalf, demonstrating strong loyalty.
• Lin and Feng Jun’s companions: Their brief riverside meeting leaves Lin intimidated by Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong’s appearance and professional presence.
• Lin Xiaojia and her parents: Lin complains about her uncle’s interference, while her parents focus on the financial consequences and push for reconciliation.
• Third Uncle Lin and Zhou Zhendong: Third Uncle attempts to bring Zhou into the apology effort, but Zhou refuses, showing that his pride remains stronger than his concern for the business.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin San is furious when Feng Jun fails to attend the arranged dinner in Yi City, but he suppresses his anger because his family needs White Night’s cooperation. After learning that Feng Jun has gone to Peng City, Lin Xiaojia tries to persuade Dou Jiahui to summon him back.
• Dou refuses, criticizing the Lin family for arranging the meeting at the last minute. Only Dou and Cousin Dong attend the dinner. Lin San accepts responsibility for the family’s mistake and offers to introduce White Night to a lighting company, sacrificing a million-yuan order to preserve future cooperation.
• Dou admires Lin San’s decisiveness but makes clear that White Night will not support the Lin family’s business that year. Nevertheless, the two men gain greater mutual respect.
• In Peng City, Feng Jun handles a chip-supply problem for Mou Miao and meets several former classmates. During a night of drinking and karaoke, one alumnus reveals that Zhang Yunzhen was seen behaving intimately with a Black Continent man in Bud City.
• Feng Jun is shocked and briefly unsettled, but he realizes the news finally helps him release his lingering attachment to Zhang. He openly declares that their relationship is completely over.
• After returning to Bud City, Feng Jun learns that trouble has erupted in Chaoge. Mou Miao’s driver was involved in a collision, allegedly caused deliberately by a local, and locals have impounded the vehicle while demanding compensation.
• Feng Jun immediately arranges a flight and sends Wang Haifeng and Xu Leigang ahead to protect Mou Miao. Sister Hong and Hao Fengjing also join him, while Zhang Caixin prepares transportation from the airport.
• Information gathered on the journey suggests the crash was an intentional attack. Local resentment toward Mou Miao has grown because he has been spending heavily, reorganizing production, and introducing competitive bidding, which has angered businesses that lost work.
• The locals also view Mou Miao as an outsider without strong connections, making him an easy target for intimidation.

Character Developments

• Lin San demonstrates pragmatism and humility by admitting his family’s mistake and accepting a costly compromise to preserve a valuable business relationship.
• Dou Jiahui is shown to be principled and loyal. Although attracted to Lin Xiaojia and interested in business, he refuses to let personal feelings justify disrespect toward Feng Jun or his company.
• Feng Jun makes emotional progress by confronting the possibility that Zhang Yunzhen has moved on. Although the revelation is unpleasant, it helps him finally detach from their past relationship.
• Feng Jun also displays strong responsibility toward Mou Miao, treating him as both a business partner and a friend whose safety he must protect.
• Hao Fengjing approaches the Chaoge crisis strategically, believing that paying to resolve the dispute may be safest, while Sister Hong favors a firmer response to avoid appearing weak.
• Mou Miao emerges as an ambitious but vulnerable businessman whose rapid expansion and aggressive restructuring have created local enemies.

Significant Themes

• Pragmatism and compromise: Lin San accepts a financial loss to preserve long-term cooperation, emphasizing the importance of weighing immediate costs against future gains.
• Loyalty and principles: Dou prioritizes fairness to Feng Jun over romantic or business opportunities, while Feng Jun risks inconvenience and danger to protect Mou Miao.
• Letting go of the past: Feng Jun’s reaction to Zhang Yunzhen’s alleged new relationship marks an important step in overcoming his unresolved feelings.
• Outsider vulnerability: Mou Miao’s lack of local connections leaves him exposed to manipulation, intimidation, and possibly organized retaliation.
• Business and resentment: Success, high spending, and changes to established systems can create hostility, especially when local workers believe opportunities are being taken away.

Character Interactions

• Lin Xiaojia attempts to use her influence over Dou Jiahui to bring Feng Jun back, but Dou refuses to compromise his standards.
• Lin San and Dou develop a more respectful relationship after openly acknowledging their disagreement and business positions.
• Feng Jun’s former classmates provide both companionship and painful information about Zhang Yunzhen. Their informal, alcohol-fueled conversation allows Feng to confront his past.
• Feng Jun coordinates with Wang Haifeng, Xu Leigang, Sister Hong, Hao Fengjing, and Zhang Caixin as they mobilize to protect Mou Miao.
• Hao Fengjing and Sister Hong disagree over whether to resolve the Chaoge dispute through payment or forceful resistance, foreshadowing possible conflict over how Feng Jun’s group should respond.

Chapter Summary: “Misunderstandings Stemmed from Lack of Understanding”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun and his group arrive in Chaoge, where Mou Miao’s Boiler-Backed Engine operation has run into serious trouble.
• Mou Miao is being prevented from leaving the hotel by people connected to the Xu family, a locally influential clan. Military Adviser Yao and Wang Haifeng’s contacts help keep the situation from escalating.
• The local authorities avoid taking a clear position because Mou Miao has spent heavily in Chaoge without establishing a local company, paying local taxes, or otherwise contributing directly to the area.
• Wang Haifeng explains that the immediate legal issue is a traffic accident involving Mou Miao’s Handa. Resolving the traffic violation may help settle the larger conflict.
• Mou Miao recounts his history with the four Xu brothers, former suppliers whose Boiler-Backed Engine work was poor and whose attitude toward inspections was hostile. After Mou Miao rejected their latest bid, they threatened to prevent him from leaving Chaoge.
• The conflict escalates when the third Xu brother causes a car accident. Three men then severely beat Xiao Meng, Mou Miao’s driver, leaving him hospitalized with multiple injuries.
• The Xu brothers also seize five Boiler-Backed Engines stored at the hotel and halt testing on ten others, putting Feng Jun’s interests at risk.
• Two local intermediaries urge Mou Miao to compromise with the Xu family, suggesting that the brothers be allowed to subcontract work and control quality inspection. Feng Jun rejects their reasoning and dismisses them.
• Feng Jun considers using gangsters to intimidate the Xu family, but Hao Fengjing warns that Chaoge’s stubborn local clans would continue retaliating through other means.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun arrives as a decisive protector. He quickly recognizes that the conflict is not merely a traffic dispute but an organized attempt to pressure Mou Miao and interfere with his business. His anger intensifies when he learns about Xiao Meng’s beating and the seizure of the engines.
• Mou Miao is shown to be principled and uncompromising about product quality. Although his refusal to accommodate local power structures helped provoke the conflict, he refuses to sacrifice his reputation or accept defective work.
• Wang Haifeng acts as a practical adviser, explaining the local political and tax situation and identifying the traffic violation as the key issue that must be resolved.
• Xu Leigang provides military connections and protection, but his assistance is limited because he cannot risk provoking a military-civilian confrontation.
• Hao Fengjing demonstrates strong knowledge of Chaoge’s social realities. She understands that intimidation alone will not defeat entrenched local forces and warns Feng Jun against relying on gangsters.
• Sister Hong remains observant and pragmatic, questioning the authorities’ stance and exploring possible ways to deal with the local thugs.
• The local intermediaries reveal themselves as representatives of compromise and “practical realities.” Though they admit Mou Miao did nothing wrong, they still expect him to submit to local customs and influence networks.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus local power: The chapter contrasts formal justice with clan influence, showing how local connections can manipulate police, tax officials, and business negotiations.
• Integrity versus compromise: Mou Miao’s insistence on quality places him in danger, while the local intermediaries argue that survival requires accepting inferior standards.
• “Local customs” as an excuse for corruption: The phrase is used to justify favoritism, coercion, and the acceptance of substandard products. Feng Jun directly challenges this idea.
• Misunderstanding and unequal perspectives: The title reflects the gap between Mou Miao’s belief in fair business practices and Chaoge’s expectation that outsiders respect local networks and unwritten rules.
• The limits of brute force: Feng Jun considers using gangsters, but Hao Fengjing explains that intimidation would only produce temporary compliance and invite continued retaliation.
• Loyalty and responsibility: Feng Jun is especially concerned because the seized engines belong to an enterprise tied to him. Mou Miao, in turn, worries less about his own loss than about harming Feng Jun’s interests.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun reunites with Wang Haifeng and Xu Leigang, who explain the political and legal complications surrounding Mou Miao.
• Sister Hong privately consults Wang Haifeng about the patrol officers and the local government’s attitude.
• Mou Miao explains the Xu brothers’ history and his refusal to accept their defective work.
• Feng Jun confronts the two local intermediaries, questioning why they are pressuring the victim rather than the aggressors.
• The intermediaries attempt to persuade Mou Miao to compromise, but Feng Jun exposes their logic as an effort to legitimize local corruption.
• After Feng Jun dismisses them, Wang Haifeng closes the door, symbolically ending their influence over the discussion.
• Feng Jun then asks Sister Hong about dealing with local thugs, while Hao Fengjing offers a more nuanced warning about Chaoge’s entrenched and retaliatory clan culture.

Chapter Summary: “Clever Little Tricks”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun, Mou Miao, and their companions discuss the four partner factories producing the Boiler-Backed Engines. The factories have become dependent on Mou Miao’s orders but now refuse to support him after he offended the Xu Family.
• Mou Miao explains that he cannot easily abandon the factories because he has already signed supply contracts and invested over twenty million. Changing manufacturers would require at least three months of adjustment, during which the new products might fail to meet the established standards.
• The partner factories exploit this weakness, believing Mou Miao is trapped by deadlines, quality requirements, and potential lawsuits.
• Feng Jun decides to abandon production in Chaoge anyway. He dismisses the threat of litigation and declares that he will sell the engines on his own terms.
• Unknown to Feng Jun and the others, Xu Family representatives secretly listen to their conversation from a nearby vehicle. They learn that the engines may be sold to Luo Country and underestimate the scale of Feng Jun’s business.
• Feng Jun orders Mou Miao to pack up and leave. Important documents have already been moved, and the group prepares to return to Yang City, leaving fifteen Boiler-Backed Engines behind.
• The group faces obstruction outside the hotel but forces its way through and reaches the guesthouse safely. They plan to depart early the next morning.
• At a farewell banquet hosted by Yao Strategist, Mou Miao insists on visiting Xiao Meng, the driver injured in the original incident. Feng Jun gives Mou Miao ten thousand as compensation for Xiao Meng, acknowledging that the injury occurred while Xiao Meng was working for him.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes more decisive and confrontational. Rather than allowing contracts or local pressure to control him, he chooses to withdraw from Chaoge and confidently promises to make the factories regret their actions.
• Mou Miao is shown as cautious, responsible, and deeply invested in his business. Although he understands the risks of leaving, he ultimately demonstrates courage and decisiveness by accepting Feng Jun’s plan.
• Wang Haifeng and Sister Hong initially advocate an impulsive refusal to honor the contracts, but they fall silent after Mou Miao explains the practical consequences. Sister Hong also recognizes that Feng Jun may be overreacting to a relatively small business dispute.
• Xu Leigang remains fiercely loyal to Feng Jun and eagerly supports his aggressive stance. He also proves useful by arranging for important documents to be moved in advance.
• Liu Xiaoxuan feels guilty about the Handa connected to the dispute and avoids asking Feng Jun to preserve it. Her reluctance highlights her awareness of the sacrifices being made.
• Yao Strategist gains respect for Mou Miao after seeing his willingness to visit and compensate the injured Xiao Meng.
• The Xu Family and their allies are revealed to be arrogant and overconfident. They spy on Feng Jun’s group, misjudge his business, and assume he will eventually be forced back by practical difficulties.

Significant Themes

• Cleverness versus genuine power: The factories believe they have trapped Mou Miao through contracts and production deadlines, but Feng Jun’s hidden resources may allow him to bypass their strategy entirely.
• Business dependence and leverage: The factories’ control comes from their specialized manufacturing knowledge and the difficulty of changing suppliers, illustrating how production bottlenecks can create powerful leverage.
• Loyalty and responsibility: Mou Miao’s concern for Xiao Meng shows that he values personal loyalty and moral responsibility even while dealing with business conflict.
• Pride and underestimation: The Xu Family assumes Feng Jun cannot afford to abandon Chaoge, revealing their failure to understand his actual resources and influence.
• Decisiveness under pressure: Feng Jun’s willingness to accept short-term losses rather than tolerate humiliation establishes his determination to protect his people and principles.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun questions Mou Miao closely to determine whether the factories possess any leverage beyond delivery deadlines and lawsuits.
• Wang Haifeng and Sister Hong initially encourage Mou Miao to ignore the contracts, but Mou Miao’s explanation forces them to reconsider.
• Feng Jun and Xu Leigang reinforce each other’s aggressive, uncompromising attitudes.
• The unseen Xu Family observers interpret the conversation and incorrectly conclude that the engines are merely uncertified products sold to Luo Country.
• Mou Miao’s decision to visit Xiao Meng earns Yao Strategist’s approval, while Feng Jun’s financial gift demonstrates his own sense of responsibility toward the injured worker.

Chapter Summary: “They Had It Coming”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun and his group stay overnight at a modest military guesthouse after Yao Strategist arranges a suite for Feng Jun. The others are placed in shared rooms.
• The Xu Family continues monitoring them, parking an unlicensed van outside the guesthouse to prevent their escape.
• The group leaves at dawn in four Yang City-plated vehicles. The Xu Family’s men immediately pursue them.
• A patrol motorcycle joins the chase near the highway entrance and attempts to overtake the van.
• Feng Jun secretly uses his unusual long-distance ability to puncture the van’s front tire. The van swerves into the motorcycle, causing the officer to crash into a roadside field. The van then overturns, though no other vehicles are caught in the accident.
• The convoy continues onto the highway without stopping, leaving the pursuers behind.
• In the car, Sister Hong questions Feng Jun about the accident. He denies using a gun and implies that he used a martial or supernatural technique instead.
• Hao Fengjing identifies the method as “Striking Acupoints from Afar,” while Zhang Caixin openly confirms that Feng Jun is capable of it.
• The group discusses the incident over the walkie-talkies and concludes that the Xu Family’s men brought the consequences upon themselves.
• Mou Miao reveals that the motorcycle officer had previously impounded his vehicle and was connected to the earlier mistreatment of Xiao Meng, making the accident feel like justified retribution to the group.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates greater confidence and ruthlessness. He calmly uses his abilities to stop the pursuit without revealing the full extent of his powers, while deliberately avoiding the more traceable use of a firearm.
• Sister Hong remains observant and cautious. She understands the need for political and social boundaries but is also increasingly aware that Feng Jun possesses dangerous abilities she does not fully understand.
• Zhang Caixin shows that she knows more about Feng Jun than Sister Hong does. Her revelation creates tension and hints at complicated feelings toward both Feng Jun and her sister.
• Hao Fengjing proves knowledgeable about martial cultivation and intentionally challenges Sister Hong’s assumptions, suggesting she recognizes Feng Jun’s capabilities better than she lets on.
• Xu Leigang distances himself morally from the Xu Family despite sharing their surname, condemning their behavior and supporting Feng Jun.
• Wang Haifeng responds with amusement and satisfaction, treating the crash as deserved punishment.
• Mou Miao finally expresses his personal grievance, explaining why he feels especially satisfied by the motorcycle officer’s misfortune.

Significant Themes

• Retribution and moral justification: The chapter repeatedly frames the accident as punishment for the Xu Family’s aggression and abuse of power.
• Power and hierarchy: The opening discussion of proper distance between superiors and subordinates reflects the broader struggle between powerful families, officials, and those beneath them.
• Concealed abilities: Feng Jun’s technique remains partly hidden, and different characters speculate about whether it is Daoist magic or martial cultivation.
• Loyalty and solidarity: The group protects one another, refuses to cooperate with the pursuers, and shares a unified sense that Feng Jun’s enemies deserve what happened.
• Abuse of authority: The Xu Family uses surveillance and intimidation, while the patrol officer recklessly exercises his authority during the pursuit.
• Jealousy and complicated relationships: Zhang Caixin’s private thoughts reveal unresolved feelings toward Feng Jun and emotional tension arising from his relationship with Sister Hong.

Character Interactions

• Sister Hong questions Feng Jun directly about his role in the crash, while Hao Fengjing and Zhang Caixin respond in ways that expose their differing knowledge of his powers.
• Zhang Caixin’s admission that Feng Jun can strike targets from a distance creates an awkward silence, prompting the others to wonder about the closeness of their relationship.
• Xu Leigang and Wang Haifeng use the walkie-talkie to condemn the Xu Family and celebrate the failed pursuit.
• Mou Miao interrupts to connect the crash to his own past mistreatment, giving the group’s anger a more personal dimension.

Chapter Summary: “At Last, It Happened”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mr. Yao informs the group that the motorcyclist involved in the highway incident survived but suffered multiple fractures and severe abrasions. The condition of the two Xu Family members in the minivan remains unknown.
• Chaoge police attempt to obtain the identities of the people traveling in the four cars. Mr. Yao refuses to cooperate unless they first provide a legitimate explanation and formal request, making it clear that Chaoge will continue pursuing the matter through improper pressure if necessary.
• After receiving a warning to be careful when leaving the highway, the group dismisses the threat. They arrive safely in Yang City without further interference.
• Feng Jun brings Mou Miao and his wife to Luohua Manor for protection, despite their having a newly purchased apartment in the city. He believes they should remain under his protection until Chaoge’s next move becomes clear.
• Mou Miao reports that Chaoge has again targeted Xiao Meng, accusing him of smuggling. Xiao Meng avoids serious trouble only because a clan elder in Chaoge helps him.
• The group discusses how to respond. Feng Jun suggests recruiting workers from elsewhere and possibly moving those who followed Mou Miao to Yang City. Mou Miao worries that they will be difficult to attract, while Feng Jun recognizes that higher pay may solve the problem.
• The group also notes that Mou Miao’s car and fifteen of Feng Jun’s Boiler-Backed Engines remain in Chaoge. Wang Haifeng confidently predicts that Chaoge will eventually regret withholding them and beg to return them.
• Sister Hong proposes using discreet, unofficial methods to pressure the Xu Family, such as paying people to create difficulties for them. She explains that this would have been impractical while Mou Miao was still actively developing his business in Chaoge, but is now feasible.
• After lunch, the group rests at the manor and later resumes their usual activities, including cultivation and touring the grounds.
• Sister Hong deliberately avoids taking Zhang Caixin to the Bamboo Grove because of a troubling intuition that something serious might happen there. Nevertheless, she eventually takes Zhang toward the rear pavilion after Zhang notices Wang Haifeng cultivating.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun acts protectively toward Mou Miao and his wife, treating them as valued allies and former classmates rather than merely business associates. He also begins considering how to support Mou Miao’s employees and business relocation.
• Mr. Yao demonstrates his knowledge of procedure and political maneuvering by refusing to reveal information without a formal legal request. His response represents Chaoge’s resistance to outside pressure.
• Mou Miao becomes increasingly angry and discouraged as Chaoge continues harassing him, especially through accusations against Xiao Meng. Although loyal to his employees and friends, he is reluctant to raise their salaries substantially.
• Sister Hong reveals herself to be practical, streetwise, and willing to use covert methods. Her plan reassures the others and strengthens her standing within the group.
• Wang Haifeng shows unwavering confidence in Feng Jun, believing Chaoge will ultimately be forced to surrender the detained goods.
• Hao Fengjing remains relaxed and unconventional, treating cultivation casually by bringing tea and snacks to the pavilion. Her behavior amuses and perplexes Wang Haifeng.
• Sister Hong’s intuition becomes an important warning sign. Her unease about Zhang Caixin entering the Bamboo Grove suggests that a major event is approaching.

Significant Themes

• Power, retaliation, and institutional abuse: Chaoge uses official authority and accusations to intimidate outsiders, while Feng Jun’s group considers unofficial retaliation in response.
• Justice versus procedure: Mr. Yao insists that legitimate authority must follow formal procedures, implying that Chaoge’s actions are powerful but legally questionable.
• Loyalty and protection: Feng Jun protects Mou Miao because of their personal history and mutual financial interests, while the group rallies around Mou Miao’s family and employees.
• Business and leverage: The stranded car, machinery, employees, and investment opportunities become tools in the conflict between Chaoge and Yang City.
• Hidden power and foreboding: Sister Hong’s instinctive fear of the Bamboo Grove creates suspense, hinting that an important or dangerous development is imminent.
• Contrasting attitudes toward cultivation: The characters display different levels of seriousness—some treat cultivation as a disciplined obligation, while Hao Fengjing approaches it casually and comfortably.

Character Interactions

• Mr. Yao and the guesthouse director coordinate their refusal to cooperate with Chaoge police without proper documentation.
• Xu Leigang relays Mr. Yao’s warning, but Wang Haifeng and Sister Hong dismiss Chaoge’s threats.
• Feng Jun reassures Mou Miao and his wife, offering them shelter and proposing ways to rebuild their workforce in Yang City.
• Gazi and Liu Xiaoxuan support Mou Miao by emphasizing the value of his stranded car and Feng Jun’s machinery.
• Sister Hong earns the group’s approval by explaining her plan to pressure the Xu Family.
• Hao Fengjing and Li Shishi share a quiet conversation while the others discuss the conflict.
• Sister Hong and Zhang Caixin tour the manor together, ending with Sister Hong deciding to show her sister Wang Haifeng cultivating in the rear pavilion—an action that fulfills, despite her efforts, the ominous sense that “something serious” is about to happen.