Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Chaotic Shantytown”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lang Zhen explains that the attractive stones found near Xiyin City are common and inexpensive. Martial Warriors often polish them into household goods, bowls, food boxes, or weights for pickle jars. This leads Feng Jun to realize that the jade box he found earlier may have been discarded because it was cheap, while the valuable Mutton-Fat White Jade he discovered was probably used to weigh down a corpse.
• While traveling at night on Feng Jun’s motorcycle, he and Lang Zhen are pursued by several mounted Martial Warriors from a large group. Lang Zhen identifies them as military personnel and orders them to stop, but they ignore him. He uses Feng Jun’s powerful crossbow to shoot the lead horse, forcing the pursuers to retreat.
• Suspecting that something is wrong, Feng Jun and Lang Zhen travel to Ninglan County. Before entering the town, Feng Jun sends the motorcycle and modern weapons back to the real world and hides the remaining supplies.
• Lang Zhen uses his experience to buy two worn horses and a carriage. Their attempt to arrange a local household registration for Feng Jun fails, but Lang Zhen assures him that he has connections in Xiyin City.
• They arrive outside Xiyin, a large and prosperous provincial capital surrounded by crowded residential areas. Feng Jun remains outside the city gate while Lang Zhen enters using his identification papers.
• Several local men approach Feng Jun and attempt to provoke and intimidate him, initially using his unusual hair and modern cigarettes as excuses. When one man tries to take his cigarette pack, Feng Jun draws his knife and slashes at him.
• The men surround Feng Jun and threaten to report him for possessing a crossbow. Feng Jun fires a bolt into the ground to intimidate them without seriously injuring anyone.
• Two constables arrive. One immediately recognizes that the local men were attempting to bully an outsider, while the other is fascinated by Feng Jun’s paper-wrapped cigarettes. Feng Jun gives the constables cigarettes, and the saber-wielding constable asks to borrow his modern lighter.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes increasingly confident and assertive in handling danger. Rather than relying only on Lang Zhen, he responds directly to threats with his knife and crossbow, demonstrating that he can protect himself in this unfamiliar society.
• Feng Jun also begins adapting socially. He tries to conceal his accent, limits his speech, and carefully controls his behavior, though his modern possessions continue to reveal that he is an outsider.
• Lang Zhen continues to serve as Feng Jun’s guide to local customs, military signals, travel, trade, and bureaucracy. His practical knowledge allows them to obtain transportation and navigate the region.
• Lang Zhen’s stories about jade and household uses emphasize his down-to-earth, battle-hardened personality, contrasting sharply with Feng Jun’s modern assumptions about the value of such materials.
• The local men are revealed to be opportunistic bullies who exploit their status as residents of Xiyin to pressure outsiders.
• The constables display contrasting attitudes: the iron-ruler constable is stern and openly contemptuous of the bullies, while the saber-wielding constable is more curious and interested in Feng Jun’s unfamiliar goods.

Significant Themes

• Relative value and cultural difference: Materials Feng Jun considers precious, such as jade, are treated locally as ordinary household objects. Their value depends on social context rather than inherent beauty or rarity.
• Outsider vulnerability: Feng Jun’s unfamiliar accent, appearance, possessions, and lack of local identity make him a target for exploitation.
• Power and deterrence: Feng Jun avoids unnecessary killing but uses modern weapons to establish that bullying him will have serious consequences.
• Adaptation and integration: Feng Jun must learn local customs, acquire legal identification, and balance concealment with the need to interact with society.
• Order amid disorder: Although Xiyin’s outskirts look like a chaotic shantytown, the city remains relatively stable, with functioning guards and constables who can restrain local abuses.

Character Interactions

• Lang Zhen educates Feng Jun about the practical uses and low status of jade-like stones, reshaping Feng Jun’s understanding of his earlier discoveries.
• Lang Zhen and Feng Jun cooperate during the pursuit, with Lang Zhen using Feng Jun’s crossbow to repel the riders.
• The local men attempt to establish dominance through mockery, false friendliness, and demands for Feng Jun’s cigarettes. Feng Jun refuses to submit and escalates the confrontation by drawing his knife and firing his crossbow.
• The constables intervene on Feng Jun’s behalf, exposing the men’s bullying behavior. The conversation then shifts from confrontation to curiosity when one constable becomes interested in Feng Jun’s cigarettes and lighter.

Chapter Summary: “Fake Constables”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun refuses to lend his lantern or surrender cigarettes to two men claiming to be constables. When they question his powerful crossbow and demand identification, he becomes increasingly suspicious and defensive.
• The pair—one carrying an iron ruler and the other a saber—use a classic “good cop, bad cop” strategy. They insist Feng Jun accompany them to the constabulary while pretending to act within the law.
• Feng Jun attempts to avoid confrontation by offering money, first copper coins and then a silver yuan, but the men reject the bribes and continue pressuring him.
• When Feng Jun asks to see their official badges, the supposed constables become hostile, exposing that they are not genuine authorities.
• Lang Zhen returns and immediately recognizes the men as Zhao San and Feng Six, former acquaintances rather than legitimate constables. Their arrival reveals that the entire encounter was an organized attempt to deceive and extort Feng Jun.
• The impostors admit they work for Master Yun, a powerful martial figure who controls the area outside Xiyin City. They demand ten silver yuan from Lang Zhen and threaten him by invoking Master Yun’s name.
• Lang Zhen refuses to be intimidated, mocking the two men and reminding them that their apparent authority is based only on Master Yun’s backing.
• Furious at nearly being tricked, Feng Jun asks whether they can kill the impostors. Lang Zhen warns that doing so openly would be troublesome, though he implies they could be killed if they attacked first or if Feng Jun revealed his status as a Divine Physician.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Demonstrates caution, independence, and a strong dislike of coercive authority. He understands that surrendering his identity or going to the constabulary could place him in a vulnerable position. However, he is angered and embarrassed when he realizes that his intelligence and vigilance nearly failed him. His willingness to consider lethal self-defense shows his growing ruthlessness when confronted with malicious schemes.
• Lang Zhen: Reasserts his old authority and fearsome reputation. Despite being injured and having only one functional hand, he remains confident enough to insult and challenge the impostors. His past connections and knowledge of the local martial world make him essential in exposing the deception.
• Zhao San and Feng Six: Their contrasting “bad cop” and “good cop” roles initially make their deception convincing, but their arrogance and familiarity with Lang Zhen quickly reveal their true nature. They rely heavily on Master Yun’s reputation rather than their own strength or legitimacy.
• Master Yun: Though absent, he is established as a major offscreen power. Once a junior known to Lang Zhen, he has risen to become a Martial Master and influential underground leader.

Significant Themes

• Abuse of authority: The impostors exploit the appearance of law enforcement to pressure, intimidate, and potentially rob travelers.
• Manipulation and vigilance: The staged interaction shows how criminals can use reasonable-sounding procedures and coordinated personalities to lower someone’s guard.
• Changing power structures: Lang Zhen represents an older generation whose influence has faded, while Master Yun symbolizes the newer forces that have risen in his absence.
• Pride and humiliation: Feng Jun’s confidence in his superior knowledge and judgment is shaken when he realizes he nearly fell for a local trap.
• Power versus legitimacy: The fake constables possess no lawful authority, but they still wield influence through intimidation and association with Master Yun.
• Practical morality: The characters distinguish between openly murdering the impostors and killing them in self-defense, reflecting the dangerous and morally flexible world they inhabit.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun refuses the impostors’ demands but tries several times to de-escalate through politeness and payment.
• The saber-wearing impostor presents himself as reasonable, while the iron-ruler impostor adopts an aggressive role; together they attempt to force Feng Jun into a controlled environment.
• Feng Jun challenges their legitimacy by requesting their badges, prompting their façade to collapse.
• Lang Zhen’s return dramatically shifts the balance. He recognizes and verbally dominates the two men, while they immediately become nervous and attempt to justify themselves.
• The impostors insult Lang Zhen’s age, injury, and loss of status, provoking his anger. He responds by mocking their dependence on Master Yun.
• Feng Jun and Lang Zhen then discuss how far they can go against the impostors, establishing their willingness to retaliate while remaining aware of the political consequences.

Chapter Summary: “Knights Block the Road”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Feng Jun and Lang Zhen leave Xiyin City, the constables and hired thugs realize they cannot safely pursue them once Lang Zhen’s identity as the famed Lone Wolf is revealed. Zhao Third, embarrassed and frightened, blames Feng Old Sixth for exposing Lang Zhen, while Feng Old Sixth warns him not to underestimate the crippled martial expert.
• Lang Zhen explains that the confrontation was part of an organized scheme targeting outsiders. The “idlers” had been testing Feng Jun’s defenses with the intention of stealing his horses and carriage, while the fake constables were prepared to intervene if necessary.
• Feeling responsible for overlooking the danger, Lang Zhen becomes more vigilant. He hires village boys to carry messages and contacts an old friend in Xiyin City, a loyal master forger, to create false identification papers for Feng Jun.
• The forger warns that Master Yun, leader of the Hall of Heroes, has changed and will likely seek revenge for his humiliation. Lang Zhen remains confident that Yun’s forces will be vulnerable if they attack in the wilderness.
• While hiding near the Xi River, Feng Jun hires two teachers to help him decipher fifty seal-script characters related to the Tai Chi Breathing technique. He deliberately mixes in characters from his Blue Star Realm knowledge to conceal the true purpose of his studies. After two days, he masters the characters and their meanings.
• Feng Jun and Lang Zhen then prepare to leave for Pacify Arms County. Before they can travel far, two young men block the road.
• The riders are the Deng brothers, sons of former Escort Chief Deng Yifu. They reveal that their father was forced out of the escort business after being injured and allegedly framed by Master Yun.
• The brothers warn Lang Zhen that Yun has been asking about him. Lang Zhen offers to help them oppose Yun, but they decline to act recklessly because of the Hall of Heroes’ power.
• Having lost their own work after their father’s retirement, the Deng brothers ask to join Lang Zhen’s group. After confirming their reliability, Feng Jun hires both for eight silver dollars a month.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes increasingly established as a cautious but capable leader. He remains calm after the attempted robbery, adapts to the hostile environment, studies local writing, and begins building a dependable organization around himself.
• Lang Zhen shifts fully back into the mindset of a professional escort and protector. His loyalty to Feng Jun is clear, and he also demonstrates deep respect for old friends and a willingness to defend them. His confidence and fierce pride remain intact despite his disability.
• Feng Old Sixth shows practical wisdom and courage by refusing to submit to Zhao Third’s bullying. He recognizes Lang Zhen’s true standing and understands the dangers of provoking him.
• Zhao Third is exposed as arrogant and cowardly. Though he insults Lang Zhen, he lacks the courage to pursue him and attempts to shift blame onto Feng Old Sixth.
• The old forger is characterized as physically unpleasant but emotionally loyal. His willingness to help Lang Zhen without payment emphasizes their long-standing friendship.
• The Deng brothers are introduced as honest, capable, and eager to prove themselves. Their loyalty to their father and resentment toward Yun align them with Lang Zhen and Feng Jun.
• Feng Jun begins acting as a patron and potential leader, not merely Lang Zhen’s employer. His decision to hire the brothers marks an early step toward forming his own power base.

Significant Themes

• Danger faced by outsiders: Xiyin City preys on newcomers, echoing the dangers of unfamiliar urban environments in Feng Jun’s Blue Star Realm.
• Reputation and hidden strength: Lang Zhen’s reputation protects Feng Jun more effectively than open violence. His disability causes others to underestimate him, but his name and abilities still command fear.
• Loyalty and personal bonds: The forger’s unpaid assistance and the Deng brothers’ connection with Lang Zhen show that past relationships can provide protection and support.
• Building power through trust: Feng Jun begins assembling a network of reliable people rather than relying solely on individual strength.
• Justice versus corruption: Master Yun’s alleged betrayal of Escort Chief Deng and his persecution of Lang Zhen establish him as a powerful antagonist who abuses influence.
• Adaptation and cultural exchange: Feng Jun uses knowledge from the Blue Star Realm while learning local script and customs, gradually integrating into the new world without revealing too much about himself.

Important Character Interactions

• Lang Zhen and Feng Jun: Their master-servant relationship is publicly revealed, shocking the constables and reinforcing Feng Jun’s authority through Lang Zhen’s reputation. Later, Lang Zhen seeks Feng Jun’s approval before hiring the Deng brothers, showing respect for his leadership.
• Zhao Third and Feng Old Sixth: Their argument contrasts cowardice and opportunism with caution and integrity. Feng Old Sixth challenges Zhao Third to act if he truly believes Lang Zhen is weak.
• Lang Zhen and the forger: Their reunion highlights an old friendship based on mutual loyalty and past assistance.
• Lang Zhen and the Deng brothers: Their meeting is emotional and familiar. Lang Zhen mourns the fall of their father’s career and immediately offers support against Master Yun.
• Feng Jun and the Deng brothers: Feng Jun evaluates their reliability before hiring them, establishing a formal patron-and-retainer relationship and giving them both employment and a chance to develop their martial abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Whoever Comes, Gets It”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun hires the Deng brothers to accompany him, offering them generous wages. Lang Zhen, who has been serving Feng Jun without pay, warns the brothers to perform well.
• The Deng brothers originally wanted Feng Jun to retaliate against the Hall of Heroes over an insult to Deng Yifu, but Lang Zhen urges them to think beyond minor grudges and recognize Feng Jun’s greater potential.
• The group travels to Pacify Arms County, where a dried-goods shopkeeper helps arrange their stay and introduces them to two village heads who can connect them with local sellers of fine stones.
• Feng Jun insists on buying stones directly at the foot of Pacify Arms Mountain rather than having the shopkeeper arrange purchases. He rents two abandoned thatched huts as a base.
• Feng Jun refuses to visit villagers’ homes to collect stones, instead requiring villagers to bring their stones to him for appraisal. This allows him to maintain the advantage during negotiations.
• The younger village head attempts to pressure Feng Jun into offering high prices, while the older village head secretly demands a twenty-percent commission in exchange for promoting Feng Jun among the villagers.
• Feng Jun rejects the extortion attempt, stating that he would rather buy fewer stones than reward corruption. His refusal leads to two days without any sellers appearing.
• While waiting, the Deng brothers search the riverbank for stones, and Lang Zhen takes a Meridian-Penetrating Pellet and meditates to recover from his injuries.
• Heavy rain and thunderstorms make the riverbank dangerous. Feng Jun orders the Deng brothers to stop searching, despite their confidence in their martial abilities.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun shows strong independence, confidence, and business sense. He deliberately maintains control over negotiations and refuses to compromise his principles by paying bribes. He also accepts the financial consequences of his stubbornness rather than surrendering his authority.
• Lang Zhen continues to demonstrate loyalty to Feng Jun and acts as a mentor to the Deng brothers. His recovery suggests he is still injured, but he remains vigilant and disciplined.
• The Deng brothers formally become Feng Jun’s subordinates and show loyalty by supporting his refusal to pay the village head. However, they remain impulsive and focused on immediate grievances, particularly the Hall of Heroes.
• The younger village head is ambitious and eager to improve his villages’ income, but he is also confrontational and tries to manipulate Feng Jun over pricing.
• The older village head is portrayed as experienced but opportunistic, attempting to profit through an under-the-table commission.
• The dried-fruit shopkeeper tries to mediate between Feng Jun and the village heads. He admires Feng Jun’s insight but is frustrated by his uncompromising behavior.

Significant Themes

• Integrity versus expediency: Feng Jun refuses to participate in bribery even though it would make his business easier.
• Power and bargaining position: By making sellers come to him, Feng Jun ensures that he—not the villagers—is placed in the stronger negotiating position.
• Loyalty and hierarchy: The Deng brothers accept Feng Jun as their employer, while Lang Zhen’s service and guidance reinforce the group’s developing hierarchy.
• Ambition versus shortsightedness: Lang Zhen encourages the Deng brothers to pursue larger opportunities rather than remain trapped by personal grudges.
• Patience and frustration: Feng Jun’s refusal to compromise causes delays, testing his patience as his plans stall just before success.
• Responsibility and caution: Feng Jun prioritizes the brothers’ safety during dangerous weather, emphasizing that leadership involves protecting those under one’s command.

Character Interactions

• Lang Zhen cautions the Deng brothers against provoking a conflict with the Hall of Heroes and pushes them toward greater ambitions.
• The Deng brothers support Feng Jun’s stance against the older village head, strengthening their loyalty to him.
• Feng Jun clashes verbally with the younger village head over transportation and pricing, refusing to be pressured.
• The dried-fruit shopkeeper praises Feng Jun’s insight while urging him to accept the older village head’s help.
• Feng Jun ultimately asserts his authority over the Deng brothers by forbidding them from searching the river during the storm, despite their objections.

Chapter Summary: A Girl Named Feifei

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lang Zhen awakens after treatment and plans to take another Meridian-Penetrating Pellet. Feng Jun advises caution, revealing that he possesses enough of the valuable medicine to use it freely.
• During light rain, Feng Jun spots a distant figure through binoculars. The figure turns out to be a small child carrying a heavy basket.
• The child, initially mistaken for a boy, approaches the group and offers to sell a family heirloom: a large, exceptionally fine piece of Mutton-Fat White Jade.
• Feng Jun learns that the child is an orphaned girl named Feifei. Her father and grandfather are dead, her mother drowned after becoming mentally ill, and she is responsible for her three-year-old younger brother.
• Feifei needs money to repay a debt and recover the family’s mortgaged farmland. She asks for five silver dollars, explaining that this amount will cover the debt and their immediate living expenses.
• Although Feng Jun offers ten silver dollars, Feifei refuses the extra money, recognizing that too much cash could endanger her and her brother. Following Lang Zhen’s advice, Feng Jun pays her five silver dollars.
• Feng Jun then offers Feifei work cooking and doing laundry for the group. In exchange, he will provide food and clothing for both her and her brother.
• Feifei repays the debt, but news of Feng Jun’s generosity spreads. The village chief angrily confronts her for disobeying the village’s order not to sell stones to the outsiders.
• Feifei courageously defends herself, pointing out that the village had done nothing to help her recover the land or repay the debt. The chief is furious but does not dare strike her, since she is an orphan and harming her would damage his reputation.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun continues to appear wealthy and mysterious, casually discussing rare medicines and recognizing the jade’s high value. He also demonstrates practical compassion by disguising charity as a business transaction and offering Feifei stable employment rather than merely giving her money.
• Lang Zhen becomes more comfortable joking with Feng Jun and shows strong sympathy for Feifei. His worldly judgment prevents Feng Jun from giving her a dangerous amount of money and helps ensure that the aid will genuinely benefit the children.
• The Deng brothers are impressed by Feng Jun’s resources and generosity. The second brother reacts passionately to Feifei’s situation, while both brothers gradually understand why giving too much money could put her at risk.
• Feifei is revealed to be remarkably mature, self-reliant, honest, and protective of her younger brother. Despite extreme poverty, she refuses unnecessary money and confidently challenges the village chief.
• The village chief is portrayed as coercive and hypocritical. He tries to control Feifei’s actions but lacks the moral courage to help her and ultimately cannot openly punish her.

Significant Themes

• Compassion expressed through practical help: Feng Jun helps Feifei in a way that preserves her dignity and provides ongoing support.
• Poverty and exploitation: Feifei’s family has been driven into debt and forced to mortgage its farmland, while local authorities pressure rather than assist her.
• Maturity born from hardship: Feifei’s restraint and responsibility contrast with her young age.
• Charity and social consequences: Feng Jun understands that conspicuous generosity can create danger, so he uses the “horse bone for a thousand gold” idea to make his actions appear commercially reasonable.
• Power, vulnerability, and reputation: The village chief can bully stronger villagers but hesitates to harm an orphaned girl because of the social consequences.
• Human kindness across social boundaries: The outsiders’ concern for Feifei contrasts sharply with the indifference of the people in her own village.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Lang Zhen develop a relationship of mutual trust, with Lang Zhen freely commenting on Feng Jun’s decisions while remaining mindful of Feng Jun’s authority.
• The group treats Feifei gently, gradually earning her trust after she initially approaches them nervously.
• Lang Zhen and the Deng brothers debate how much Feifei should receive, ultimately prioritizing her safety over generosity.
• Feng Jun offers Feifei employment, transforming a one-time transaction into an ongoing relationship.
• Feifei later confronts the village chief, asserting that the village has no right to condemn her when it offered no assistance to her family.

Chapter Summary: “The Heavy Backpack”

Plot Points and Events

• Feifei begins cooking for Feng Jun and his companions while continuing to care for her younger brother, Huanhuan. Because Feng Jun’s group includes members connected to the Mighty Wind Escort Agency, the village chief no longer dares mistreat her.
• After the first successful jade sale, villagers rush to sell stones to Feng Jun, often demanding unreasonable prices. Feng Jun refuses to overpay and insists on buying only properly polished stones.
• When one seller tries to pass off a half-finished stone as valuable, Lang Zhen intimidates him by effortlessly smashing a large rock and using a fragment to pick his teeth.
• Feng Jun purchases a large but low-quality green jade stone shaped like a stool for 1,001 copper coins—slightly more than one silver dollar—despite Lang Zhen’s advice to offer less. Feng Jun enjoys using psychologically appealing prices and knows the jade will be extremely valuable in the modern world.
• Over the next few days, Feng Jun’s reputation spreads. His hut fills with jade, forcing the Deng brothers to exchange gold leaves for more spending money.
• Lang Zhen recovers seventy to eighty percent of his cultivation after taking his second Meridian-Penetrating Pellet and prepares to take the third after further rest.
• As more sellers arrive, Feng Jun refuses to buy inferior jade indiscriminately. Although he pays somewhat more than merchants from Xiyin City, his limited funds prevent him from stockpiling everything.
• His selective buying causes resentment. Villagers spread a rumor that Feng Jun is monopolizing all the good jade on Pacify Arms Mountain and will ruin the local trade by leaving only poor-quality stones.
• Feifei reports the rumor to Feng Jun. Realizing that the situation may become dangerous or disruptive, he returns temporarily to the modern world.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes more confident and practical as a merchant. He maintains firm purchasing standards but also shows generosity, knowingly paying extra for the jade stool because its modern-world value is enormous. He demonstrates cleverness through his use of “psychological pricing.”
• Lang Zhen continues to act as Feng Jun’s adviser and protector. His knowledge of jade prices helps Feng Jun avoid bad deals, while his overwhelming physical strength deters aggressive sellers. His recovery also marks progress toward restoring his cultivation.
• Feifei develops into more than a cook and caretaker; she becomes Feng Jun’s informal intelligence source, monitoring village rumors and warning him of potential trouble.
• The local villagers are shown as opportunistic but economically desperate. Some attempt deception or inflated pricing, while others become resentful when Feng Jun refuses to buy their inferior goods.
• The taxi driver and hotel bellboy highlight the extraordinary weight of Feng Jun’s jade without knowing what it is. Their reactions provide comic contrast to Feng Jun’s efforts to conceal his wealth.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun negotiates with several villagers, rejecting inflated prices and unfinished stones.
• Lang Zhen supports Feng Jun during negotiations, physically intimidating one dishonest seller and persuading another to accept a reasonable offer.
• Feifei reports the growing anti-Feng Jun rumors, prompting him to leave for the modern world.
• In the modern world, Feng Jun deceives a taxi driver by claiming that his nearly three-hundred-jin bags contain heavy books. The driver and a hotel bellboy both struggle with the luggage, unknowingly demonstrating its true weight.
• Feng Jun also reflects on his appearance and decides to cut his shoulder-length hair after returning to modern society.

Significant Themes

• Economic opportunity and exploitation: Feng Jun’s arrival creates a new market, encouraging villagers to seek profit but also exposing greed, dishonesty, and resentment.
• Limited resources and selective investment: Feng Jun understands that stockpiling valuable goods requires substantial capital, forcing him to prioritize high-quality jade.
• Rumor and social tension: Even reasonable business decisions can provoke public anger when people feel excluded or fear losing their livelihood.
• Strength and authority: Lang Zhen’s cultivation and physical power serve as both protection and social leverage in negotiations.
• Cross-world value differences: Objects considered ordinary or low-value in one world may be extraordinarily valuable in another. Feng Jun’s knowledge of modern jade prices gives him a major advantage.
• Concealment and adaptation: Feng Jun must hide both his wealth and the Phone Space’s secrets, even resorting to elaborate lies about books and adjusting his appearance to fit modern society.

Chapter Summary: “Can’t Afford the Embarrassment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun arrives at Henglong Jewelry carrying a massive piece of Green Jade, intending to sell it.
• He avoids making an appointment because he does not want Henglong to prepare or gain an advantage in negotiations.
• After several unanswered or rejected calls, he finally reaches President Liang Haiqing and bluntly demands that Liang meet him downstairs.
• Liang recognizes Feng Jun as the seller of the previous Mutton-fat Jade Seed Material, which had earned Henglong a substantial profit. His attitude quickly improves when he notices Feng Jun’s heavy backpack.
• Feng Jun enters the building under surveillance, and Henglong’s executives inspect the enormous Green Jade for over half an hour.
• Elder Wu asks about offcuts, but Feng Jun firmly refuses to inquire about them. He says asking the villagers about scraps would reveal that he was buying valuable jade cheaply and profiting from it.
• Liang offers 2.6 million for the jade, but Feng considers the price too low and reminds him that the previous deal was also undervalued.
• Young Master Yuan interrupts and raises the offer to three million, intending to buy the jade as a birthday gift for the father of Wanli’s president.
• Feng accepts the three-million price but demands payment in gold rather than Chinese currency.
• Young Master Yuan argues that ten kilograms of gold would be difficult to gather at the industry price, while Feng questions whether a major jewelry company should have trouble obtaining that amount.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Becomes more confident, assertive, and commercially calculating. He carefully protects his anonymity and bargaining position, refuses to expose his jade sources, and insists on fair value. His refusal to ask about offcuts reflects both pride and concern for future business.
• Liang Haiqing: Shows himself to be pragmatic and profit-oriented but also capable of maintaining good business relations. Though initially irritated by Feng’s manner, he quickly becomes courteous after recognizing the valuable jade and remembering Henglong’s previous profit.
• Elder Wu: Represents Henglong’s technical expertise and traditional concern with maximizing every piece of jade. His frustration with Feng reveals how unusual Feng’s attitude appears to industry professionals.
• Young Master Yuan: Emerges as a wealthy, confident buyer who is willing to spend more than Henglong’s initial offer. His decisive intervention changes the negotiation and suggests strong family or business connections.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus self-protection: Feng refuses to rely solely on Liang’s character and takes precautions to protect his wealth and sources.
• Bargaining and power: The chapter emphasizes how control over rare resources gives Feng negotiating leverage, while buyers attempt to minimize costs.
• Pride and reputation: Feng’s statement that he “can’t afford the embarrassment” reflects his desire not to appear greedy or reveal how profitable his jade dealings are.
• Wealth and unconventional value: Feng’s preference for gold instead of currency highlights his desire for tangible, stable assets and introduces tension between retail and industry pricing.
• Business relationships: Personal impressions matter, but profit remains the foundation of every interaction.

Character Interactions

• Feng and Liang begin with tension due to Feng’s aggressive phone calls, but their relationship stabilizes once Liang recognizes him and adopts a respectful attitude.
• Feng clashes with Elder Wu over the missing offcuts, refusing to accommodate Henglong’s desire to maximize the jade.
• Liang acts as a mediator, defending Feng as a guest while steering the discussion back toward the sale.
• Young Master Yuan challenges Liang’s low offer, then negotiates directly with Feng. Their exchange is relatively respectful, but Feng’s demand for gold creates a new dispute over valuation and practicality.

Chapter Summary: “Seeing Ye Qingyi Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun insists on trading his jade exclusively for gold rather than cash. He explains that buying large amounts of gold through official channels would attract government attention and create legal risks.
• At Henglong, he hints that he has more high-quality mutton-fat jade available. Liang Haiqing becomes interested and offers to help him find channels for obtaining gold, while Young Master Yuan grows suspicious of Feng Jun’s background.
• After leaving, Feng Jun takes several taxis to avoid being followed and visits Li Dafu, where he reunites with Ye Qingyi.
• Feng Jun tries to give Ye Qingyi the Maolin phone he previously bought for her. She initially refuses because she already owns a better phone, but he persuades her by presenting it as payment for helping appraise his jade.
• Ye Qingyi agrees to inspect the jade later, especially after Feng Jun claims that he has an even larger and higher-quality piece of mutton-fat jade than before.
• Feng Jun shows Li Dafu a piece of green jade from his backpack. The store manager, appraiser Master Qi, and a vice president examine it and recognize its exceptional value.
• Feng Jun refuses to sell the jade for cash and demands gold at the industry price. He names twelve kilograms of gold as his target, though he reveals that he has already agreed to trade it elsewhere for ten kilograms.
• The store staff consider his demand extremely high, but Master Qi acknowledges that the jade is rare enough to command a “priceless” valuation. Feng Jun refuses to reveal the identity of the other buyer.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun remains cautious, calculating, and determined to obtain gold despite the risks. He demonstrates growing confidence in negotiating with businesses and uses his jade’s rarity to control the discussion.
• He also shows a more playful and socially adept side with Ye Qingyi, using teasing, persistence, and humor to repair their previously awkward interaction.
• Ye Qingyi appears composed, independent, and perceptive. She does not easily accept Feng Jun’s gifts or allow him to manipulate the situation, but she is genuinely interested in his jade and quietly supports him during the appraisal.
• Liang Haiqing recognizes Feng Jun’s value and caution, becoming willing to help him access gold-trading channels.
• Young Master Yuan grows suspicious and greedy, sensing that Feng Jun has unusual resources and an unclear background.
• The Li Dafu staff are impressed by the jade but remain focused on profitability and the practical risks of acquiring it.

Significant Themes

• Risk versus profit: Feng Jun’s need for gold is profitable but potentially dangerous because large-scale gold purchases could expose his secret activities.
• Power in negotiation: The rarity of the jade lets Feng Jun act as the seller with the stronger position, even when the buyers dislike his price.
• Secrecy and mistrust: Feng Jun conceals the true source of his jade and the identity of his buyer, while others try to investigate his background.
• Social tact and face-saving: Feng Jun and Ye Qingyi navigate their awkward past through indirect speech, humor, and carefully preserved dignity.
• Value and perception: The chapter contrasts gold’s fixed market price with jade’s subjective and potentially limitless value.

Character Interactions

• Liang Haiqing defends Feng Jun during the gold-trading discussion and offers to help him find reliable channels.
• Feng Jun and Young Master Yuan clash over the difficulty and danger of acquiring gold.
• Feng Jun and Ye Qingyi engage in playful verbal sparring over the phone and the jade appraisal. Her refusal to accept favors easily forces him to clarify his intentions.
• Ye Qingyi unexpectedly sides with Feng Jun when the appraiser criticizes his negotiating style, arguing that rare jade gives him the advantage.
• Feng Jun challenges the Li Dafu staff by demanding twelve kilograms of gold and refusing to disclose his existing deal, leaving them impressed, frustrated, and suspicious.

Chapter Summary: Li Dafu’s Boldness (Second Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun negotiates with Li Dafu over selling twelve kilograms of gold. The company’s executives request three days to decide, and Feng agrees, partly because he hopes to spend more time with Ye Qingyi.
• Ye Qingyi later distances herself from him during the negotiations to avoid accusations of favoritism. However, she accepts the phone he gives her and advises him to hold onto his Green Jade, predicting its value could rise by 20–30%.
• Because Feng urgently needs cash, he leaves the Green Jade in a hotel and brings his Mutton-fat White Jade pillow to Li Dafu.
• Chairman Li Yongrui offers thirty million for the jade, acknowledging that it is an unusually valuable piece. Feng asks to be paid in gold, but Li explains that only 20% can realistically be provided in gold because of government oversight and the risks of undocumented transactions.
• Li Dafu assigns its female store manager to accompany Feng while he seeks competing offers. Feng initially wants Ye Qingyi to accompany him, but the manager refuses because Li Dafu distrusts their relationship.
• At Henglong Jewelry, General Manager Liang Haiqing is determined to obtain the Mutton-fat Jade, viewing it as a rare opportunity to strengthen Henglong’s prestige.
• Henglong first offers thirty-five million in cash, but after revealing that it also has private gold channels, Liang revises the offer to fifty kilograms of gold plus twenty million yuan in cash for the Mutton-fat Jade.
• Including the earlier Green Jade, Feng and Henglong settle on a total of sixty kilograms of gold and twenty million yuan in cash. Henglong plans to pay thirty-eight million in cash, which Feng will use to purchase the gold through a third party.
• To protect both sides, Feng will hand over the Mutton-fat Jade after receiving payment and deliver the Green Jade only after obtaining the gold. The deal involves a dangerous black-market transaction worth more than ten million yuan, raising concerns about Feng’s safety and ability to handle it alone.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes more calculating and commercially confident. He refuses to accept Li Dafu’s initial offer immediately, shops between competing companies, and structures the transaction to protect himself.
• He also shows continued interest in Ye Qingyi, though her professional caution frustrates him. His willingness to compromise and maintain contact with her reveals both romantic interest and growing emotional attachment.
• Ye Qingyi demonstrates innocence but also practical business judgment. Her advice about the Green Jade’s future value proves perceptive, and her decision to avoid Feng during negotiations shows concern for fairness and reputation.
• Li Yongrui emerges as a decisive and experienced businessman. He recognizes the jade’s value immediately but remains cautious about illegal or poorly documented gold transactions.
• Liang Haiqing displays ambition and determination. He is willing to expose Henglong’s hidden resources and risk a major expenditure to obtain a prestigious piece that can enhance the company’s reputation.
• The female store manager proves observant, strategic, and suspicious. She openly probes Feng’s sources, monitors his relationship with Ye Qingyi, and attempts to control the negotiations on Li Dafu’s behalf.

Significant Themes

• Competition and commercial strategy: Li Dafu and Henglong compete not merely over profit but over reputation, prestige, and control of rare jade resources.
• Legal versus underground commerce: The negotiation highlights the tension between official business practices and private or black-market gold channels.
• Trust and mutual suspicion: Every party assumes the others may deceive them, leading to escorts, staged payments, delayed deliveries, and carefully balanced safeguards.
• Reputation and corporate prestige: Henglong wants the jade as a permanent symbol of its strength, while Li Dafu relies on its established public reputation and industry dominance.
• Risk and ambition: Feng’s desire for wealth pushes him into increasingly dangerous transactions, while Henglong’s ambition motivates it to reveal connections it normally keeps hidden.

Character Interactions

• Feng and Ye Qingyi’s relationship becomes more complicated as personal interest clashes with business propriety.
• Feng and Li Dafu negotiate cautiously, with both sides trying to learn how much the other knows about gold sources and market prices.
• The female store manager and Feng engage in a subtle contest of suspicion and manipulation.
• Liang Haiqing and the store manager openly challenge each other, each representing the interests and hidden strengths of their companies.
• Feng and Liang eventually cooperate, but their agreement is built on safeguards rather than genuine trust, reflecting the dangerous nature of the transaction.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun agrees to cooperate with Liang Haiqing and Henglong but waits to compare their offer with Li Dafu’s company.
• Li Dafu raises its offer to 33 million yuan, including a discounted gold payment, but Feng Jun rejects it because Henglong offers 38 million yuan in cash.
• After Li Dafu’s representative leaves, Feng Jun and Liang Haiqing finalize the deal. Feng Jun requests 20 million yuan deposited into his bank account and 18 million yuan in cash, giving Henglong only two days to prepare the money.
• Young Master Yuan considers robbing or eliminating Feng Jun to seize the jade and possibly discover his suspected smuggling connections. Liang Haiqing rejects the idea, judging Feng Jun too mysterious and the risks too high.
• Feng Jun uses multiple vehicles on his way back to the Penglai Grand Hotel to avoid possible surveillance. Exhausted and worried that he may have been followed, he tries contacting Good Scenery but receives no response.
• He begins practicing the Tai Chi Breathing technique. The first two forms prove surprisingly easy, making him suspect he has quickly reached the levels of a mid- or advanced Martial Warrior.
• The third form is more difficult, involving the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and the Microcosmic and Macrocosmic Orbits. It leaves him hungry, so he eats chocolate while continuing.
• The fourth diagram requires reversing the heavenly orbit, a dangerous practice that could cause cultivation loss or qi deviation. Feng Jun persists despite having no teacher to warn him.
• He reaches the final stage, where the “great medicine” should transform into jade nectar, but the process fails. He considers taking a Foundation-Nourishing Pill, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun remains cautious, decisive, and commercially shrewd. He rejects a respectable offer because Henglong’s price is better and imposes a strict deadline to reduce the chance of betrayal or complications.
• His vigilance has increased: he changes vehicles, worries about being followed, and avoids unnecessary delays.
• Feng Jun also demonstrates stubbornness and confidence in his ability to recover from failure, even when attempting a potentially dangerous cultivation technique without guidance.
• Liang Haiqing shows flexibility and business judgment. Although tempted by Feng Jun’s unexplained jade and wealth, he chooses continued profitable cooperation over a risky criminal scheme.
• Young Master Yuan reveals his greed and willingness to use violence, but ultimately backs down after Liang Haiqing emphasizes the danger.
• The store manager continues trying to connect Feng Jun with Little Ye, while Feng Jun begins reconsidering whether he should pursue her seriously.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus suspicion: Both sides suspect the other may be hiding criminal connections, yet profit and mutual caution keep the partnership intact.
• Risk and restraint: Liang Haiqing refuses to gamble Henglong’s future for a single massive payout, while Feng Jun constantly minimizes risks through deadlines and evasive travel.
• Greed versus long-term interests: Young Master Yuan is tempted by immediate wealth, but Liang Haiqing prioritizes sustainable business.
• Self-reliance and recklessness: Feng Jun’s determination allows him to progress rapidly, but his lack of instruction makes his cultivation dangerous.
• The clash between ordinary business and supernatural power: Large-scale cash deals, gold, jade, and possible smuggling networks intersect with Feng Jun’s increasingly extraordinary cultivation abilities.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Liang Haiqing negotiate respectfully but firmly, with Feng Jun maintaining control by comparing offers and setting the payment deadline.
• The store manager politely concedes the failed negotiation, hints at Little Ye’s romantic availability, and attempts to preserve goodwill for future cooperation.
• Liang Haiqing and Young Master Yuan discuss whether Feng Jun should be attacked. Liang Haiqing rejects the plan, arguing that Feng Jun’s mysterious supply channels are more valuable to use than to seize.
• Feng Jun has no direct interaction with Good Scenery in the chapter, but his unanswered message adds to his unease.
• During cultivation, Feng Jun is effectively alone, forced to rely on his own judgment as he pushes into the dangerous later stages of Tai Chi Breathing.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun experiments with pills while attempting to transform the “Great Medicine” in his dantian into Jade Nectar.
• He accidentally takes a Body-Tempering Pill, expecting it to be ineffective, but notices that it causes the Great Medicine to tremble and become unstable.
• He then deliberately takes a Foundation-Nourishing Pill and uses the Tai Chi Breathing method. The combined effects gradually disperse and transform all the Great Medicine into milky-white Jade Nectar.
• The transformation causes a powerful surge of energy through his acupoints. Although no Jade Nectar physically leaves his body, the force blasts through his tailbone acupoint, tearing his pants, puncturing the chaise lounge, and filling the room with a foul odor.
• After showering, Feng Jun contacts the hotel staff to arrange compensation for the damaged cushion.
• A young engineering employee, Little Lin, aggressively questions and insults Feng Jun instead of handling the matter professionally. Feng Jun refuses to deal with him and demands a manager.
• The lobby manager, Brother Geng, arrives, apologizes, and offers to replace the room. Feng Jun agrees to compensate the hotel but insists that Little Lin be held accountable for his behavior.
• After prolonged negotiation, the manager agrees to deduct the cost of the damaged cushion from Little Lin’s wages. Feng Jun pays the hotel anyway, effectively ensuring Little Lin receives a financial penalty.
• Feng Jun moves to a new room and exchanges messages with Mei Renxin (“Good Scenery”). Their banter reveals that both have had exhausting days: Feng Jun damaged his clothes during cultivation, while Mei Renxin lost numerous pairs of clothes due to the violent stock-market fluctuations.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Makes an important breakthrough by successfully converting the Great Medicine into Jade Nectar, demonstrating increased control over his cultivation. He also displays his growing confidence and wealth, refusing to tolerate disrespect while still insisting on fairly compensating the hotel.
• Little Lin: Is shown to be immature, hot-tempered, and emotionally unstable after a breakup. He wrongly directs his frustration at Feng Jun and refuses to accept responsibility, though his confrontation ultimately costs him money.
• Lobby Manager/Brother Geng: Acts as a pragmatic mediator. He tries to protect the hotel, calm Feng Jun, and manage Little Lin, while admitting that he has long been frustrated with the employee’s attitude.
• Mei Renxin: Appears through witty messages and maintains a teasing, familiar relationship with Feng Jun. Her comment about losing ten pairs of clothes hints at the scale of her financial activities and the chaos surrounding them.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and transformation: The chapter centers on Feng Jun’s discovery that the Body-Tempering and Foundation-Nourishing Pills can destabilize and refine the Great Medicine, enabling its conversion into Jade Nectar.
• Wealth and social power: Feng Jun reflects that money allows him to avoid being bullied and to demand proper treatment. His financial strength changes the balance of power in the hotel dispute.
• Responsibility and accountability: Feng Jun accepts responsibility for the physical damage he caused but insists that Little Lin also face consequences for his misconduct.
• Generational and social inequality: The manager’s comments about spoiled young people prompt Feng Jun to compare pampered modern children with the hardship endured by children in the other world, emphasizing the vast differences in people’s circumstances.
• Humor amid serious progress: The potentially significant cultivation breakthrough is undercut by the absurd destruction of Feng Jun’s pants and furniture, maintaining the chapter’s comedic tone.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and the hotel staff: Feng Jun initially tries to settle the matter reasonably, but Little Lin’s hostility causes the exchange to escalate. The lobby manager successfully mediates by offering an apology, a room change, and a wage deduction for Little Lin.
• Feng Jun and Little Lin: Their interaction is openly confrontational. Feng Jun criticizes Little Lin’s behavior and refuses to accept an apology delivered on his behalf.
• Feng Jun and the lobby manager: Their negotiation reflects mutual pragmatism. The manager seeks to avoid conflict and protect the hotel, while Feng Jun demands both fair compensation and respect.
• Feng Jun and Mei Renxin: Their text conversation is playful and sarcastic. They joke about their respective misfortunes, revealing an easy familiarity and strengthening the sense of alliance between them.

Chapter Summary: “Good Scenery’s Difficulties (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun and Good Scenery continue their lively, disjointed online conversations, discovering that their odd communication style makes them feel like kindred spirits.
• They joke about stock trading, money, and their respective “value.” Good Scenery reveals that she has lost money in the market, while Feng Jun pretends to be an experienced investor despite holding no stocks.
• Good Scenery invites Feng Jun to dinner at Shanzhou Restaurant. Before leaving, Feng Jun changes clothes and takes precautions by carrying the Mutton-fat Jade pillow with him, concerned about a suspicious person he previously offended.
• At the restaurant, Feng Jun and Good Scenery meet in person for the first time. Their online boldness gives way to slight awkwardness, though Good Scenery responds positively when Feng Jun tries to create a familiar atmosphere.
• They order food and wine, with Good Scenery choosing red wine rather than baijiu. Their conversation soon turns to their stock investments.
• Feng Jun shows her his account, revealing that he has 2.5 million yuan but holds no stocks. Good Scenery asks him to examine her portfolio and advise her about which positions might need to be sold.
• Good Scenery’s portfolio contains nearly twenty stocks, including six very large positions. Her securities assets exceed six million yuan, with more than 5.1 million invested and over 85% of her funds tied up in stocks.
• She explains that the account originally belonged to her father and that she feels emotionally attached to it. Her parents’ divorce and the unequal division of their assets have made managing the account a source of family conflict.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Displays growing confidence and social boldness, borrowing dating techniques from Wang Haifeng to ease the awkwardness of meeting Good Scenery. Although he lacks real stock expertise, he is honest enough to recognize the risks in her portfolio and cautious about giving financial advice. His newly acquired wealth also makes him eager to show off.
• Good Scenery: Her confident, flirtatious online persona becomes more restrained in person, though she remains direct and playful. She is revealed to be a serious but emotionally driven investor, holding excessively concentrated positions because of her attachment to her father’s account and her family history.
• Wang Haifeng: Though absent, he influences Feng Jun’s behavior through his advice and experience with women.

Significant Themes

• Online identity versus real-life behavior: Feng Jun and Good Scenery’s bold online banter does not fully carry over into their first face-to-face meeting.
• Trust and emotional connection: Their unusual conversations create a sense of mutual understanding, allowing them to become comfortable despite their differences.
• Money and status: Their joking competition over wealth reflects Feng Jun’s recent rise from poverty and Good Scenery’s substantial financial resources.
• Emotional attachment affecting judgment: Good Scenery’s inability to separate her feelings about her family from her investment decisions demonstrates how personal history can interfere with rational choices.
• Family conflict and financial injustice: Her parents’ divorce, property division, and her mother’s resentment turn stock management into a symbolic continuation of their marital dispute.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Good Scenery flirt through teasing messages about money, attractiveness, and stock-market losses.
• At dinner, Feng Jun attempts to recreate their online familiarity by suggesting a hug, while Good Scenery responds with a playful punch rather than rejecting him.
• They challenge each other over their investment experience, with Good Scenery pressing Feng Jun to review her holdings despite his reluctance to offer advice.
• Good Scenery gradually opens up about her parents’ divorce and the emotional burden attached to her father’s account, shifting their interaction from flirtatious banter toward personal trust.

Chapter Summary: “Interrogation and Cultivation”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun discusses Good Scenery’s investments after learning that she owns shares in twenty different stocks. He records the stocks on his phone, intending to analyze them and possibly help her manage her finances.
• Their conversation turns personal. Good Scenery explains that although her father is wealthy, she supports herself through her public-sector job, music shop, and teaching work. Feng Jun admires her independence.
• They recall the embarrassing KTV incident involving the woman nicknamed When the Flowers Bloom and Li Qiang. Both laugh over the story, creating a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere.
• Good Scenery reveals that she is married, surprising Feng Jun. She teasingly suggests that she might divorce her husband and pursue him, but later makes clear that divorce is impossible for her, refusing to explain why.
• After she leaves, Feng Jun reflects on his changing attitude toward marriage. He realizes that, because of his newfound wealth and abilities, women such as Ye Qingyi and Good Scenery might realistically be interested in him, yet he remains hesitant and emotionally guarded.
• Feng Jun eats an unusually large meal after Good Scenery’s departure, consuming five bowls of rice and finishing all the dishes.
• Instead of continuing to dwell on romance, he decides to cultivate Tai Chi Breathing in a nearby park.
• He successfully practices the first three forms, including the previously difficult reverse-circulation technique. His qi flows more powerfully and smoothly than before.
• At around one in the morning, feeling energetic rather than tired, he tests his progress by firing a burst of qi from his fingertip toward the lake.

2. Character Developments

Feng Jun

• Becomes more confident about his financial status and abilities, though he still feels uncertain about whether he truly “earned” his wealth.
• Shows genuine admiration for Good Scenery’s independence, contrasting her success with his own earlier struggles.
• Begins recognizing that his social position and romantic prospects have changed dramatically because of his strange encounter.
• Remains cautious about marriage, partly because of disappointment with society and human relationships.
• Makes clear progress in cultivation, gaining better control over his qi and developing greater physical stamina.

Good Scenery

• Is presented as financially capable, self-reliant, attractive, and emotionally confident.
• Playfully flirts with Feng Jun while maintaining control of the interaction.
• Reveals that she is married but hints at complicated circumstances surrounding the marriage.
• Her refusal to discuss why she cannot divorce creates an unresolved mystery about her background.

3. Significant Themes

• Changing social status and self-perception: Feng Jun’s wealth and supernatural abilities have altered how others may view him, but he has not fully adjusted psychologically.
• Independence versus inherited privilege: Good Scenery emphasizes that she does not rely on her father’s wealth, earning Feng Jun’s respect.
• Romance and emotional hesitation: The chapter contrasts flirtation and romantic possibility with Feng Jun’s reluctance to commit, reflecting his distrust and past disappointment.
• Secrecy and hidden circumstances: Good Scenery’s marriage and inability to divorce suggest concealed personal or social complications.
• Cultivation as self-discipline: Feng Jun redirects emotional confusion into practice, showing his growing focus on personal strength and mastery.
• Transformation: His appetite, stamina, confidence, and qi control all demonstrate the physical and psychological changes brought about by cultivation.

4. Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and Good Scenery develop increased familiarity through teasing, financial discussion, and shared laughter.
• Good Scenery praises Feng Jun’s financial independence, while he compliments her self-sufficiency and background.
• Their exchange becomes flirtatious when she jokes about leaving her husband for him, causing Feng Jun to seriously consider marriage for the first time since his breakup.
• Feng Jun responds carefully, claiming that they should know each other better before making such a decision, revealing both tact and nervousness.
• Their parting remains warm but ambiguous: Good Scenery leaves with a smile, while her marriage and feelings toward Feng Jun remain uncertain.

Chapter Summary: “Playing Dumb”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun confirms that he has advanced to the Martial Master realm after successfully projecting qi force onto a distant lake. Although the force is weak, its existence proves his breakthrough.
• He reflects that becoming a Martial Master in modern society feels unimpressive because firearms and technology make low-level martial strength less dominant. He believes he would need to reach the Innate Expert level to feel truly powerful.
• His cultivation causes him to develop an intense appetite for meat. After eating one hundred lamb skewers, he returns to the hotel and spends the next day practicing the difficult fourth form of Tai Chi Breathing, completing only two diagrams.
• Henglong Jewelry contacts him to arrange payment for the gold. Feng Jun delays the meeting long enough to borrow a heavily modified minivan capable of carrying a large load.
• At Yang City Commercial Bank, Henglong delivers 38 million yuan in cash. After the money is counted, Feng Jun deposits 20 million into his account and loads the remaining 18 million into the minivan.
• He rejects Liang Haiqing’s invitation to dine together and leaves immediately, surprising the bank employees and Henglong’s drivers with the vehicle’s ability to carry the enormous weight without difficulty.
• Feng Jun then contacts another party to arrange the sale of 1,800 yellow croakers, using coded language because both sides understand the transaction’s illicit or concealed nature.
• They agree to meet at an agricultural machinery station in an area without surveillance cameras. Feng Jun accepts without hesitation, apparently confident that he can handle any ambush.
• The chapter ends with the buyers—three men and one woman—discussing Feng Jun’s lack of caution. One middle-aged man displays murderous intent, though the group is uneasy about the possible danger.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Reaches the Martial Master level, gaining confidence in his physical capabilities. He remains calm, practical, and increasingly fearless, treating potentially dangerous criminal dealings as manageable risks. His appetite and physical needs also show that cultivation is placing major demands on his body.
• Liang Haiqing: Continues to treat Feng Jun cordially and attempts to build a closer relationship through a meal invitation, but Feng Jun keeps the interaction strictly transactional.
• Henglong’s employees and bank staff: Are impressed and intimidated by Feng Jun’s wealth, VIP status, and unusual behavior. Their reactions highlight his growing social influence.
• The four prospective buyers: Reveal themselves as suspicious and potentially violent. They suspect Feng Jun may be setting a trap but are prepared to risk their lives for the gold-related business.

Significant Themes

• Power in a modern world: Feng Jun’s martial breakthrough is objectively significant but feels less useful in a society dominated by firearms and surveillance.
• Caution versus confidence: Feng Jun’s willingness to enter an unsupervised meeting contrasts with the buyers’ suspicion. His confidence suggests he believes his martial abilities give him an advantage.
• Money and hidden identities: The cash transaction and coded seafood deal show the importance of wealth, secrecy, and intermediaries in Feng Jun’s growing operations.
• Playing dumb and mutual deception: Both sides understand the real nature of the yellow croaker transaction but deliberately pretend ignorance, creating a tense atmosphere of concealed intentions.
• Cultivation’s physical cost: Feng Jun’s extreme hunger and preference for meat emphasize that supernatural advancement requires substantial bodily energy.

Important Character Interactions

• Feng Jun and the bank employee: His gold card immediately changes her dismissive attitude into nervous respect.
• Feng Jun and Liang Haiqing: Liang attempts friendly conversation and hospitality, but Feng Jun declines and maintains distance.
• Feng Jun and the yellow-croaker intermediary: Their deliberately vague conversation reflects mutual awareness and concealed motives.
• The four buyers: Their discussion after the call establishes that they expect possible violence and may be preparing to ambush Feng Jun at the isolated meeting location.

Chapter Summary: “On the Verge of Exploding (Please Vote)”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter explains the dangerous world of illegal gold mining. The four-person gang survives through violence and illegal work, but their ultimate goal is to earn enough money to leave the business before they are killed or permanently disabled.
• Henglong, their regular gold buyer, arranges an eighteen-million-yuan transaction between them and an unknown buyer, Feng Jun. Both sides are suspicious and anxious because neither knows the other’s background.
• The gang’s female member proposes ambushing or intimidating Feng Jun, arguing that they have killed before and should not be afraid of him. The gang leader initially refuses, preferring to complete the deal peacefully, but eventually allows her to test the other side as long as she does not go too far.
• Feng Jun arrives alone at a deserted, demolished agricultural machinery station in a battered but modified minivan. The sellers arrive in two SUVs with several armed-looking thugs, creating a clear numerical advantage.
• Feng Jun remains calm despite being surrounded and immediately takes control of the negotiation. He demands that the sellers open their boxes and orders irrelevant people—particularly the woman—to remain silent.
• The gold bars and eighteen million yuan in cash are displayed and checked. While the money is being counted, the woman secretly attempts to use her phone, but Feng Jun notices and forces her to remove her hands from her pockets.
• A hidden man suddenly appears near the wall. Feng Jun reacts instantly, producing a small crossbow and shooting him in the thigh. The chapter ends with the wounded infiltrator crying out in pain.

2. Character Developments

• Feng Jun is established as unusually observant, fearless, and prepared. Although he appears to be a lone young buyer driving an unimpressive vehicle, his composure and rapid response reveal that he is far more dangerous and capable than he looks.
• The tall, burly gang leader is cautious and experienced. He recognizes that Feng Jun’s calmness is suspicious and repeatedly restrains his companions from escalating the situation.
• The gang’s only woman is aggressive, greedy, and overconfident. She pushes for a trap or show of force, underestimates Feng Jun, and secretly tries to make a move during the transaction.
• The middle-aged man is opportunistic. Though initially cautious, he becomes tempted by the possibility of gaining leverage over Henglong and supports the idea of testing Feng Jun.
• The gang as a whole is shown to be violent but pragmatic: they want to profit and escape the illegal mining business, yet greed and internal pressure threaten their plan.

3. Significant Themes

• Greed versus self-preservation: The gang knows that caution is necessary, but the eighteen-million-yuan deal tempts them to take unnecessary risks.
• Appearances versus reality: Feng Jun looks weak because he is alone and drives an old minivan, while the gang arrives with SUVs and armed men. However, his calm behavior and hidden abilities reverse the apparent power balance.
• Violence as a way of life: The illegal mining world is portrayed as one where murder, intimidation, and betrayal are routine, and survival depends on constant suspicion.
• Trust and paranoia: Neither side can fully trust the other. Even a business transaction requires surveillance, concealed plans, and readiness to fight.
• The danger of underestimating others: The gang’s confidence in its numerical advantage is challenged when Feng Jun detects and immediately neutralizes the hidden observer.

4. Character Interactions

• The gang members debate whether to attack or intimidate Feng Jun, revealing their differing levels of caution and greed.
• Feng Jun dominates his interaction with the gang leader by refusing to engage with the others and insisting on speaking only to whoever is in charge.
• He openly humiliates the woman by ordering her to be quiet and remove her hands from her pockets, while the leader’s authority forces her to comply.
• The gang and Feng Jun conduct a tense exchange of cash and gold, each side watching for cheating or an ambush.
• The final interaction is between Feng Jun and the hidden man: Feng Jun detects him, fires without hesitation, and leaves the gang confronted with the fact that their supposed victim may be the most dangerous person present.

Chapter Summary: “Malicious Probe”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun discovers that the apparent “passerby” near the ruins is actually connected to the gold-panning group.
• The group had arranged the man as a test to observe Feng Jun’s reaction and potentially intimidate Henglong.
• Feng Jun immediately sees through the act and shoots the disguised subordinate in both thighs with a concealed modified crossbow.
• He threatens the injured man and demands to know who sent him, making clear that he suspects a larger conspiracy.
• The group’s leaders hesitate over whether to intervene. Their original plan was to leave the “passerby” to Feng Jun, but his unexpectedly ruthless response frightens them.
• When the middle-aged man attempts to challenge Feng Jun, Feng Jun redirects his crossbow toward him. The burly leader tries to defuse the situation, warning that his group also has weapons.
• Feng Jun challenges them to see who can act faster, using his confidence and composure to maintain psychological control despite being outnumbered.
• A young subordinate suddenly draws a pistol. Feng Jun uses a mysterious burst of force to strike the man’s wrist, then fires a crossbow bolt that knocks the gun away.
• Realizing that Feng Jun possesses extraordinary martial abilities, the burly leader immediately concedes and admits the entire incident was a deliberate test.
• The woman accepts responsibility, claiming the plan was her idea, while the burly leader admits he had opposed it.
• Feng Jun refuses to let them escape with a simple apology. He criticizes the leader’s poor judgment and weak control over his group, then asks how they would have treated him if he had fallen into their hands.
• The leader claims they would only have extorted money because Henglong stood between them, though the implied reality is that Feng Jun might have been killed if the stakes were high enough.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun: Demonstrates extreme decisiveness, intimidation, and tactical control. He combines the crossbow with his advanced martial abilities, proving that he can neutralize both melee and firearm threats. Although he understands the value of compromise, he deliberately maintains a harsh stance because he knows he is operating alone and must prevent future challenges.
• The burly leader: Reveals himself to be cautious rather than blindly violent. Once Feng Jun displays his supernatural precision, the leader quickly abandons confrontation, admits the truth, and accepts responsibility. However, Feng Jun criticizes him for lacking authority and failing to control his subordinates.
• The woman: Is exposed as one of the main planners of the probe. She shows loyalty by trying to take sole blame and protect the leader.
• The injured subordinate: Becomes an unwilling pawn in the group’s test and suffers serious injuries because of it.
• The young gunman: Acts impulsively by escalating the confrontation, but is swiftly disarmed, reinforcing Feng Jun’s superiority.
• The middle-aged man: Appears willing to pressure Feng Jun but retreats once Feng Jun turns his weapon toward him.

Significant Themes

• Intimidation and psychological warfare: Feng Jun wins largely by projecting absolute confidence and making the group believe that resisting him would be disastrous.
• The danger of underestimating an opponent: The group expects a simple confrontation with a lone businessman but instead encounters someone capable of both precision violence and superhuman martial techniques.
• Power and deterrence: Feng Jun’s brutality is not portrayed merely as anger; he believes he must establish a reputation strong enough to prevent future attacks.
• Trust and manipulation: The group’s “passerby” is a deliberate deception, while the leader’s attempts to negotiate and minimize the incident are also strategic.
• Leadership and responsibility: The leader’s willingness to concede contrasts with his inability to restrain his associates. Feng Jun emphasizes that a leader must enforce rules rather than merely claim authority.
• Moral ambiguity in the underworld: Both sides understand that business disputes can lead to violence or death. Their negotiation rests less on morality than on reputation, strength, and mutually recognized limits.

Character Interactions

• Feng Jun interrogates and threatens the disguised subordinate while the others watch from a distance.
• The middle-aged man and burly leader exchange uneasy looks, revealing their discomfort at seeing their plan backfire.
• Feng Jun confronts the leader directly, challenging his threats and forcing him to negotiate.
• The young gunman’s intervention leads to a dramatic demonstration of Feng Jun’s martial power.
• After the leader confesses, the woman tries to shield him by claiming responsibility.
• Feng Jun rejects both emotional appeals and conciliatory tactics, insisting that the group explain what they intended to do if he had been defeated.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun interrogates the leader of a group of gold prospectors who attempted to extort him. When the man claims they intended to take only one or two hundred, Feng Jun immediately recognizes the lie.
• Instead of seriously harming them, Feng Jun demands compensation: the group must leave three million from their four cases of money and surrender three firearms—a shotgun, a hunting rifle with twenty rounds, and a submachine gun with seventy rounds and two magazines.
• The injured prospectors retreat in two vehicles, furious over their losses. The group’s leader blames the woman who provoked Feng Jun, while she explains that she underestimated his ability to strike acupuncture points with finger force.
• The prospectors speculate that Feng Jun may have a powerful martial-arts master, joking about techniques such as Finger Snap Divine Skill and Six Meridian Sword.
• Feng Jun carefully retrieves the abandoned weapons only after confirming the group has left. He reasons that forcing them to discard the guns gives him some legal distance, whereas directly robbing them could implicate him if the authorities later investigate the weapons.
• He meets Wang Haifeng and transfers some of the money and weapons into Wang’s vehicle. Wang notices the suspicious packages but wisely avoids asking too many questions.
• The two discuss Feng Jun’s need for a personal car and a secure residence. Wang recommends a low-profile Magotan, while Feng Jun initially considers more conspicuous vehicles before settling on buying a Satpa.
• Feng Jun quickly purchases a Satpa from a dealership. A misunderstanding occurs when he privately asks the saleswoman about buying another Magotan; she assumes he is soliciting an inappropriate private service, only to realize he is simply trying to keep the purchase secret from Wang.
• Afterward, Feng Jun explains that he needs a spacious villa with convenient transportation but does not yet own property in the area. Wang advises him to contact Zhang Wei, while Feng Jun remembers a reliable young real-estate agent and calls him for help.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun demonstrates increasing confidence, strategic thinking, and control. He defeats the attackers without unnecessary violence, extracts substantial compensation, and thinks carefully about the legal consequences of possessing firearms and stolen property.
• His growing wealth and access to dangerous equipment lead him to seek greater independence: a personal vehicle and a private villa capable of storing his possessions safely.
• The burly gang leader is shown to be angry but cautious. After witnessing Feng Jun’s abilities, he recognizes that provoking him may have involved a much greater force, possibly including a powerful master.
• The woman in the gang remains perceptive and technically knowledgeable, correctly assessing Feng Jun’s martial limitations but admitting that she misjudged the danger.
• Wang Haifeng continues to act as Feng Jun’s informal adviser and comic foil. He is socially confident, enjoys flirting, and gives flashy but impractical advice while still helping Feng Jun navigate practical matters.
• The dealership saleswoman becomes embarrassed because of Feng Jun’s deliberately vague wording, highlighting his occasionally mischievous and socially oblivious manner.

Significant Themes

• Power and restraint: Feng Jun proves his superiority without killing or seriously injuring the attackers, showing that dominance can be established through controlled force and negotiation.
• Pragmatism and self-protection: His handling of the guns reflects his awareness that power brings legal and practical risks. He seeks to profit while preserving plausible deniability.
• Hidden wealth and secrecy: Feng Jun repeatedly tries to conceal the extent of his resources—from Wang, the authorities, and the outside world.
• Social appearance versus reality: The discussion of Magotans, Satpas, and luxury vehicles explores the tension between appearing wealthy and maintaining a low profile.
• Transition toward independence: Securing a car and villa marks Feng Jun’s gradual establishment of a stable base in the modern world.
• Humor through misunderstanding: Wang’s teasing and the saleswoman’s misinterpretation provide comic relief amid the chapter’s criminal and logistical concerns.

Important Character Interactions

• Feng Jun intimidates and negotiates with the gold prospectors, forcing them to surrender money and weapons.
• The prospectors argue among themselves afterward, with the leader blaming the woman for provoking an opponent far beyond their expectations.
• Feng Jun and Wang exchange sarcastic advice about cars, wealth, dating, and social status, reinforcing their friendly but teasing relationship.
• Feng Jun deliberately creates an awkward misunderstanding with the saleswoman, then clarifies that he wants to purchase a second car discreetly.
• Feng Jun turns to Wang and a real-estate agent for assistance in building a more secure and independent living arrangement.

Chapter Summary: Minting Silver Dollars (Third Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun tells a young real-estate agent that he is currently considering properties requiring a down payment of less than twenty million yuan. The agent is shocked by Feng’s casual definition of being “tight on funds,” but becomes excited at the prospect of earning a commission large enough to buy his own home.
• Wang Haifeng arranges a drinking gathering between Feng Jun, Zhang Wei, and Li Qiang. The three men, who once underestimated Feng because of his humble origins, now treat him with much greater respect after learning about his securities account, mining business, and expensive property search.
• The group jokes about Feng’s interactions with women, particularly “Good Scenery.” Feng denies having won her over and decides not to mention his possible plans to introduce her to the investment fund.
• Feng asks Zhang Wei whether Shenghai Securities can help him purchase physical precious metals. He explains that he wants to buy silver in bulk and have it processed into standardized silver dollars.
• Feng reveals a silver dollar from the Phone Space. Zhang Wei and Li Qiang examine it, confirming that it is made of pure silver and carries unfamiliar seal-script characters. Feng claims it is merely a filming prop and says he wants an initial order of one ton.
• Zhang agrees to arrange the silver and basic minting work, accepting payment upon delivery. Feng offers an additional two-percent processing fee. Zhang jokes that Feng might be preparing to establish an independent island nation and issue his own currency.
• Feng declines the invitation to continue the evening at a KTV because he needs to cultivate. That night, he completes the third diagram of the fourth move of his Breathing Method and estimates that he will soon reach the Mid-Rank Martial Master stage.
• Feng reflects on how unusually fast his cultivation has progressed compared with Lang Zhen and Lone Wolf, wondering whether his Breathing Method is somehow abnormal or “fake.”
• The following day, Feng delivers green jade to Henglong. While waiting for Liang Haiqing, he asks for books on jade knowledge.
• Liang returns and immediately apologizes for the previous day’s conflict involving the gold prospectors. Feng dismisses the matter, saying only that it must not happen again. He then begins preparing to discuss further business with Liang.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun continues to grow in wealth, influence, and confidence. He now casually handles multimillion-yuan transactions and expects others to respect his privacy and decisions.
• His caution also increases alongside his wealth. Rather than using gold, which is more tightly regulated, he chooses silver because it offers lower legal and logistical risks while still being useful in the Phone Space.
• Feng’s rapid cultivation becomes a source of uncertainty. Although he recognizes his extraordinary progress, he remains wary that something about his technique may be unnatural.
• Zhang Wei shifts from viewing Feng as an ordinary acquaintance to recognizing him as a valuable and potentially mysterious business partner. He is willing to facilitate the silver purchase but avoids pressing Feng for explanations.
• Wang Haifeng, Zhang Wei, and Li Qiang now treat Feng with greater seriousness because of his financial strength and unusual “mining” background.
• Liang Haiqing becomes notably deferential toward Feng, anxious to preserve their profitable business relationship and avoid alienating him.

Significant Themes

• Transformation of status: Feng’s wealth and achievements rapidly change how former acquaintances perceive and treat him.
• Money as power and protection: Financial resources give Feng access to business channels, social respect, and greater control over potentially risky plans.
• Risk management: Feng deliberately chooses silver over gold because it is less strictly regulated, showing his growing awareness of practical and legal dangers.
• Secrecy and deception: Feng conceals the Phone Space and disguises his true purpose by calling the silver dollars filming props.
• Rapid advancement and exceptionalism: His accelerated martial cultivation raises questions about destiny, protagonist-like fortune, and whether extraordinary success carries hidden dangers.
• Rules versus individual ability: The discussion of miners and companies emphasizes that survival in the modern world depends not only on ability but also on navigating established systems and institutions.

Character Interactions

• The drinking gathering shows the group’s changed attitude toward Feng: teasing remains, but it is mixed with respect and caution.
• Li Qiang and Zhang Wei joke about Feng’s romantic failures, while Feng responds calmly and refuses to be embarrassed.
• Zhang initially jokes and questions Feng’s unusual silver request, but quickly backs off when Feng asserts that he owes no one an explanation.
• Feng and Zhang establish a practical business arrangement based on trust, with Zhang providing access to silver and minting services.
• Liang Haiqing proactively apologizes to Feng for the prospectors’ behavior, revealing how eager he is to maintain Feng as a customer.
• Feng responds to Liang’s apology without anger, signaling that he is willing to move past the incident as long as future cooperation remains smooth.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feng Jun discusses future jade cooperation with Liang Haiqing, president of Henglong.
• Feng reveals that the two jade pieces Henglong purchased were merely “testing the waters” and that he possesses a much larger supply of equally high-quality jade.
• He initially claims that even ten Henglongs could not absorb all his goods, shocking Liang and suggesting that Feng’s supply may exceed that of major mines in Tu Country.
• Liang suspects Feng has access to a smuggling route, but Feng denies this and insists the jade comes from his own mines.
• Liang warns Feng that releasing too much jade into Yang City could destabilize the local market. Jade is a luxury product, not a consumable necessity, and consumer demand is limited.
• The jewelry industry currently maintains a fragile balance, with supply carefully controlled because excessive inventory could depress prices.
• Liang advises Feng to introduce no more than roughly 300–500 million yuan worth of additional jade into Yang City each year, and preferably to sell outside Yang City and even outside Funiu Prefecture.
• Feng realizes that the issue is not merely how much money he can earn, but how to distribute his supply without provoking industry-wide resistance or attracting danger.
• Liang’s warning about the risks of massive wealth reminds Feng of a family from his hometown that was murdered after openly flaunting its prosperity.

Character Development

• Feng Jun: Begins the conversation confident and eager to sell as much jade as possible, focused on reaching his financial goals quickly. Liang’s explanation forces him to become more cautious and strategic. He starts considering long-term business planning, market consequences, regional expansion, and personal security.
• Liang Haiqing: Demonstrates business experience, market awareness, and political caution. Though initially eager to secure Feng’s supply, he prioritizes protecting Henglong and preserving the wider jade market. His reaction shows both his shock at Feng’s resources and his ability to recognize their potential impact.
• Feng and Liang’s relationship: Their cooperation strengthens, but the conversation also establishes tension. Liang wants access to Feng’s jade while limiting the amount entering the market, whereas Feng must decide how much of his supply to reveal and where to sell it.

Significant Themes

• Abundance versus market capacity: Feng possesses far more jade than the local market can absorb, showing that unlimited supply can become a liability rather than an advantage.
• Business strategy and restraint: Success requires controlling supply, protecting prices, and planning for long-term growth rather than pursuing immediate profit.
• Hidden power and secrecy: Feng’s mysterious resources give him enormous leverage, but revealing too much could expose him to suspicion, competition, or retaliation.
• Wealth and danger: Great riches attract attention and can threaten personal safety, especially when displayed carelessly.
• The limits of consumer demand: Even a large city cannot instantly develop a culture of luxury consumption; markets must be cultivated gradually.

Character Interactions

• Feng uses confident, almost boastful statements to impress Liang, while Liang responds with disbelief and careful questioning.
• Liang challenges Feng’s claims about his supply and probes whether he has a smuggling network.
• Feng denies illegal activity but subtly implies that his jade source is extraordinarily rich.
• Liang shifts from negotiating a purchase to advising Feng on market control, effectively warning him that reckless selling could make him an enemy of the entire local jewelry industry.
• The discussion changes Feng’s priorities: instead of simply selling his remaining jade, he begins thinking about controlled expansion, geographic diversification, and protecting himself from those who might covet his wealth.

Chapter Summary: “Auction House Plans”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liang Haiqing warns Feng Jun that smaller cities may be more dangerous than major ones because of limited police resources and concentrated criminal activity. He offers to connect Feng with reliable jade buyers in other provinces, including a powerful contact in Dragon City.
• Feng Jun clarifies that he has no intention of traveling from province to province to sell jade. Instead, he plans to hold an internal jade auction in Yang City, allowing interested buyers to come to him.
• He asks to use Henglong’s showroom for the auction, but insists on personally inviting the guests so that Henglong does not take control of his resources or the event.
• Feng contacts Li Yongrui, chairman of Li Dafu, for support. Li initially recommends using Li Dafu’s superior venue, but Feng explains that if Li Dafu hosts the auction, Henglong will handle invitations. This preserves Feng’s role as organizer while giving both companies a meaningful role.
• The auction will be an industry-only event rather than a public sale. Feng does not need publicity or maximum profit; he wants to distribute his abundant jade resources efficiently within the jewelry trade.
• Feng specifically excludes Treasure-Gathering House from the guest list, apparently because of their previous hostility or bad luck in dealing with him.
• The auction is tentatively planned for the following week, with the exact date announced only three days in advance. Li Yongrui is baffled by Feng’s casual, seemingly anti-profit attitude.
• Feng returns to his villa and takes four more pieces of jade with him so he can quickly raise cash for an upcoming villa purchase and silver-dollar order. He also reduces visits to his rented villa to avoid exposing the fifteen jade pieces hidden there.
• Meanwhile, unknown people secretly install pinhole cameras in Feng’s rented room at the Penglai Grand Hotel, removing light bulbs, smoke detectors, and other fixtures to conceal them.
• Shortly afterward, the car dealership salesperson informs Feng that his Magotan will arrive in two days and that he must pay half the purchase price immediately.

Character Developments

• Feng Jun becomes increasingly confident and detached from ordinary business practices. His enormous jade reserves have made him unwilling to pursue buyers or exhaust himself traveling. He now expects buyers and major companies to accommodate him.
• Feng also demonstrates stronger strategic awareness. He protects his authority by refusing to let Henglong handle both the venue and invitations, and he uses competition between Henglong and Li Dafu to maintain control.
• Liang Haiqing recognizes Feng’s extraordinary resources and confidence. Although initially trying to guide him toward safer markets, he accepts Feng’s independent approach and understands why Feng can afford to act so casually.
• Li Yongrui is impressed by Feng’s opportunity but confused by his unconventional behavior, especially his refusal to produce a catalog, set a firm date, or maximize attendance. He nevertheless understands the value of controlling the invitation list and agrees to cooperate.
• Feng’s growing wealth has changed his priorities: he no longer needs to maximize every sale and instead focuses on convenience, control, and long-term plans.

Significant Themes

• Power and leverage: Feng’s abundant jade gives him bargaining power over established businesses. Rather than seeking approval, he makes Henglong and Li Dafu compete to assist him.
• Wealth changing behavior: Once Feng realizes he already possesses wealth worth billions, money becomes less important than time, autonomy, and convenience.
• Control over resources and relationships: Feng carefully limits who can access his jade and who may participate in the auction, especially excluding Treasure-Gathering House.
• Appearance versus reality: Feng’s relaxed attitude makes others think he is irrational or wasteful, but his behavior is logical because his hidden resources far exceed what they know.
• Hidden danger and surveillance: The concealed cameras introduce a new threat, showing that Feng’s growing wealth and activities have attracted covert monitoring.

Character Interactions

• Feng and Liang Haiqing debate whether Feng should sell jade elsewhere. Liang offers helpful connections, while Feng makes clear that he will not be pressured into traveling or surrendering control.
• Feng and Li Yongrui negotiate the auction’s venue and guest invitations. Feng cleverly divides responsibilities between Li Dafu and Henglong, preventing either company from overshadowing him.
• Li Yongrui agrees to screen invitees and assist with the auction, while privately struggling to understand Feng’s disregard for conventional profit-making.
• Feng’s interactions with both businessmen show that, despite being younger and less established, he now holds the stronger position because of his unique access to jade.
• The chapter ends with Feng preparing to convert more jade into cash, just as an unknown party begins spying on him and the dealership requests payment for his car.