Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi, a 15-year-old gang enforcer, arrives in Puxi City to collect the monthly protection fee from Shopkeeper Chen.
• Shopkeeper Chen, known for being tough, refuses to pay, recounting his past struggles against the Green Gang's tactics.
• Xu Yi, anticipating refusal, brings gasoline and threatens to burn down the shop if Chen doesn't pay.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Initially shy and embarrassed, he shows determination and cunning in his task, demonstrating a contrast between his youthful appearance and his role as a gang enforcer.
• Shopkeeper Chen: Despite his tough exterior, he shows concern for his family's well-being and is willing to endure hardships to protect them and his business.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and exploitation: The Green Gang's demand for protection fees highlights the corrupt and exploitative nature of the gang's influence over businesses.
• Struggle against oppression: Shopkeeper Chen's resistance against the Green Gang represents the struggle of small business owners against oppressive forces.
• The consequences of defiance: Xu Yi's threat to burn down the shop if Chen doesn't pay underscores the severe consequences of defying the Green Gang.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Shopkeeper Chen: Their interaction is tense and confrontational, with Xu Yi trying to intimidate Chen into paying, and Chen refusing, leading to a standoff.
• Xu Yi's internal struggle: Despite his role, Xu Yi feels embarrassed asking for money directly, showing a hint of his internal conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi, a new disciple of Mister Ye Hai, visits Hongfa Fruit Firm to collect protection money, but instead pays Shopkeeper Chen to protect the firm.
• Xu Yi returns to Golden Orchid Nunnery, where he senses a distinctive scent and meets Ye Miao, Mister Ye Hai's daughter.
• Ye Miao drags Xu Yi behind a rockery and demands money from him.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Shows recklessness and disregard for his life, but also displays a sense of justice and responsibility.
• Shopkeeper Chen: Initially stubborn and unwilling to pay Xu Yi, but later accepts his protection.
• Ye Miao: Demonstrates a strong personality and is not afraid to assert her authority.

Significant Themes

• Protection and power dynamics: Xu Yi's actions at the fruit firm highlight the power imbalance and need for protection in the 38th Shop District.
• Trust and respect: Shopkeeper Chen's change of heart shows the importance of trust and respect in building relationships.
• Hierarchy and status: The use of titles like "Eldest Miss" emphasizes the importance of hierarchy and status within the Green Gang.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Shopkeeper Chen: Their interaction shows Xu Yi's ability to negotiate and assert his power, while Shopkeeper Chen initially resists but eventually accepts Xu Yi's protection.
• Xu Yi and Ye Miao: Ye Miao's assertive behavior towards Xu Yi demonstrates her dominance and authority within the gang.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi meets Ye Miao, Mr. Ye Hai's daughter, at Golden Orchid Nunnery.
• Ye Miao takes a silver dollar from Xu Yi, and he experiences a strange reaction to her scent, causing his vision to turn black and white.
• Xu Yi senses a sinister presence in the nunnery's incense hall.
• Mr. Ye Hai tests Xu Yi's understanding of the current situation in Puxi City and the importance of controlling territories for the Green Gang.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Xu Yi demonstrates his understanding of the current political and economic situation in Puxi City, showing his intelligence and strategic thinking. He also exhibits a peculiar reaction to Ye Miao's scent, hinting at an unknown ability or condition.
• Ye Miao: Ye Miao is portrayed as spoiled and mischievous, taking advantage of Xu Yi's kindness. She also seems to have some knowledge about Xu Yi's unusual reaction to her scent.
• Mr. Ye Hai: Mr. Ye Hai is shown to be a prominent figure in the Green Gang, well-connected, and astute. He tests Xu Yi's understanding and shows approval of his answers.

Significant Themes

• Power and Influence: The Green Gang's struggle to maintain and expand their influence over territories and businesses in Puxi City is a central theme.
• Unseen Forces: The sinister presence Xu Yi senses in the incense hall hints at supernatural or unknown forces at play.
• Scent and Reaction: Xu Yi's unusual reaction to Ye Miao's scent suggests a deeper connection or ability related to smell.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Ye Miao: Their interaction is playful and teasing, with Ye Miao taking advantage of Xu Yi's kindness and Xu Yi reacting strangely to her scent.
• Xu Yi and Mr. Ye Hai: Their interaction is more serious and formal, with Mr. Ye Hai testing Xu Yi's understanding and Xu Yi demonstrating his intelligence and respect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi learns from Mr. Ye Hai about unifying merchants, controlling supply channels, and maintaining market order for profits.
• Mr. Ye Hai tasks Xu Yi with managing Hongfa Fruit Firm, collecting its monthly money, and paying respects to the deceased Candied Zhang.
• Xu Yi visits Candied Zhang's funeral, where he learns about Zhang's suspicious death and his family's retaliation against debt collectors.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi shows understanding and initiative in grasping Mr. Ye Hai's business strategy.
• Mr. Ye Hai reveals his appreciation for Xu Yi's intelligence and drive, hinting at future opportunities.
• Candied Zhang's family demonstrates resilience and courage in standing up against debt collectors.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and Opportunity: Xu Yi's ambition is recognized by Mr. Ye Hai, who sees potential in him for future opportunities.
• Power Dynamics: The struggle for power and control is evident in the conflict between Candied Zhang's family and the debt collectors, as well as the Constabulary's ineffectiveness.
• Corruption and Inequality: The Constabulary's corruption and the lack of protection for the common people highlight the inequality in society.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Mr. Ye Hai: Their mentor-mentee relationship deepens as Mr. Ye Hai shares valuable insights and tasks with Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi and the hired hand: Their brief interaction provides Xu Yi with crucial information about Candied Zhang's death and his family's actions.
• Candied Zhang's family and debt collectors: The conflict between them illustrates the family's determination to protect their interests despite the odds.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi learns about the Zhang Family's curse from Big Brother, a ghost who was once Candied Zhang's subordinate.
• The coffin containing Candied Zhang and his infected family members begins to shake, and the Zhang Family struggles to keep it closed.
• Big Brother asks Xu Yi to light three cigarettes and bury them in a small red clay pot, revealing himself as a ghost.
• Xu Yi controls Big Brother by holding the clay pot containing his ashes.
• Big Brother, bound by Xu Yi, calls for help, and another entity possessing him appears, with pale red eyes.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Shows courage and resourcefulness in dealing with the supernatural situation. He maintains a moral stance, willing to help the Zhang Family despite their past actions.
• Big Brother: Initially appears as a friendly ghost, but later reveals his true nature and seeks help from another entity.
• Red-Eyed Brother: A new entity possessing Big Brother, who expresses disdain for the Zhang Family's cruelty and questions Xu Yi's motives.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Elements: The chapter introduces ghosts and curses, adding a layer of mystery and danger to the story.
• Moral Ambiguity: Xu Yi's willingness to help the Zhang Family despite their past actions raises questions about morality and redemption.
• Power Dynamics: The possession of Big Brother by another entity showcases the power struggle between supernatural beings.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Big Brother: Initially friendly, their relationship turns tense when Xu Yi controls Big Brother using his ashes.
• Xu Yi and Red-Eyed Brother: They engage in a conversation about the Zhang Family's cruelty, with Red-Eyed Brother questioning Xu Yi's motives.
• Xu Yi and the Zhang Family: The family members fear and respect Xu Yi, believing him to be a representative of Mr. Ye Hai, a powerful gang figure.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi learns that the Zhang Family's wealth comes from opium trafficking, not selling candied fruit.
• Xu Yi decides to help the Zhang Family, but only if they admit to using their children as stakes in a gambling game.
• Old Lady Zhang admits to the truth, and Xu Yi asks for opium to "wake himself up" before dealing with the evil ghost.
• Xu Yi and the evil ghost (Red-Eyed Brother) burn down the Zhang Family compound, killing everyone inside.
• After the deed, Xu Yi asks Red-Eyed Brother about his ghost-controlling technique, leading to a revelation about "Hundred Night Miasma."

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Shows cunning and ruthlessness in dealing with the Zhang Family, proving himself to be more than just a gang enforcer.
• Red-Eyed Brother: Initially hostile, he becomes more open to Xu Yi after seeing his potential and decides to guide him about the world of "Hundred Night Miasma."

Significant Themes

• Superstition and the belief in the supernatural.
• The corrupting influence of power and wealth.
• The consequences of one's actions.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Old Lady Zhang: Xu Yi manipulates Old Lady Zhang into admitting the truth about her family's gambling debts and opium trafficking.
• Xu Yi and Red-Eyed Brother: They form an uneasy alliance to deal with the Zhang Family, leading to a mutual respect and potential future connection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi discovers he can see the Hundred Night Miasma, a first step towards becoming a Night Roaming God.
• Red-Eyed Brother, a Night Roaming God, explains the process and requirements to become one.
• Xu Yi sends a Little Red Clay Pot with Red-Eyed Brother's guidance, which ends up in the hands of a mysterious girl who controls Ghost Brother.
• Xu Yi buys food and heads towards the Golden Orchid Nunnery.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Shows curiosity and determination in pursuing the path of a Night Roaming God.
• Red-Eyed Brother: Reveals his knowledge and experience as a Night Roaming God, offering guidance to Xu Yi.
• The Girl: Demonstrates power and control over Ghost Brother, hinting at her status as a Night Roaming God.

Significant Themes

• The path to becoming a Night Roaming God: Requires lineage, training, and refinement of spirituality into divinity.
• The duality of Night Roaming Gods: They can be friendly (like Red-Eyed Brother) or hostile (like the girl).
• The power dynamics between Night Roaming Gods and ghosts: The girl's control over Ghost Brother showcases her dominance.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Red-Eyed Brother: Xu Yi asks questions, and Red-Eyed Brother provides guidance and advice.
• The Girl and Ghost Brother: The girl punishes Ghost Brother for attempting to deceive her, demonstrating her power and authority.
• Xu Yi and the food vendors: Xu Yi buys food from them, showing the prosperity of the district's economy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi returns to the Golden Orchid Nunnery after dealing with Candied Zhang.
• He reports to Mr. Ye Hai, who praises his actions but is secretly upset about the loss of his opium business share.
• Mr. Ye Hai seeks divine guidance using Jiaobei, praying for Xu Yi's failure in an upcoming task to cover his own involvement in the opium trade.
• The Jiaobei results in a "Sacred Cup" thrice, indicating divine approval for Xu Yi's involvement in the Jing Family affair.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi demonstrates loyalty and righteousness but lacks adaptability and experience in the jianghu.
• Mr. Ye Hai is revealed to be involved in the opium trade, showing his hypocrisy as a Green Gang leader who preaches benevolence and righteousness.
• Mr. Ye Hai is willing to sacrifice Xu Yi for his own gain, showing his manipulative and selfish nature.

Significant Themes

• The corruption and hypocrisy of those in power, as seen in Mr. Ye Hai's involvement in the opium trade while preaching moral values.
• The harsh realities of the jianghu, where good and evil are not absolute, and one must endure hardship to survive.
• The influence of divine intervention and fate, as seen in the Jiaobei results and Xu Yi's dream.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Mr. Ye Hai: Xu Yi reports to Mr. Ye Hai, who praises his actions but secretly plans to use him for his own gain.
• Mr. Ye Hai and the divine: Mr. Ye Hai seeks divine guidance, praying for Xu Yi's failure to cover his own involvement in the opium trade.
• Xu Yi and the divine: Xu Yi has a dream where he sees a figure in armor holding a blade, symbolizing the divine guidance he will receive in the upcoming task.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi dreams of various monsters and creatures from Red-Eyed Brother's tales, all defeated by a towering, intimidating figure.
• Xu Yi discovers Ye Miao's fragrance's effect on spirituality lasts only around three hours.
• Ye Miao tells Xu Yi she's being sent to St. Mary's Hall, a prestigious girls' school, and expresses her fears and complaints.
• Xu Yi asks for and receives Ye Miao's sachet.
• Mr. Ye Hai assigns Xu Yi to help Jing Hesheng, a wealthy man with a broken waist, and his young daughter Jing Tao, who runs the family's medicinal soap factory.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi shows empathy and concern for Ye Miao, promising to stand up for her if she's bullied at school.
• Ye Miao reveals she knows about the danger Xu Yi might face, showing she cares for him.
• Xu Yi demonstrates his loyalty and dedication to Mr. Ye Hai by accepting a challenging assignment.

Significant Themes

• The power of fragrance and its limited duration, hinting at the temporary nature of spiritual protection.
• The struggle of the young and powerless (Ye Miao and Jing Tao) against older, more influential figures.
• The importance of loyalty and dedication in business and relationships.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Ye Miao's interaction shows their mutual care and understanding.
• Xu Yi's interaction with Mr. Ye Hai displays his respect and willingness to take on difficult tasks.
• The upcoming interaction between Xu Yi and Jing Tao hints at a potential mentor-mentee or helper-protege relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mr. Ye Hai gives Xu Yi two silver dollars and a newspaper, urging him to read it regularly.
• Xu Yi reads a newspaper article about an opium burning incident in 38th Shop District.
• Xu Yi arrives at the Jing Family residence, noticing the dark and desolate courtyard covered in black gauze.
• He meets Jing Hesheng, who is wheelchair-bound and in poor health, warning Xu Yi that there's nothing valuable left in his home.

Character Developments

• Mr. Ye Hai demonstrates his benevolence and righteousness by helping Xu Yi and Jing Hesheng despite the danger.
• Xu Yi shows determination and resolve in carrying out Mr. Ye Hai's commission.
• Jing Hesheng reveals his dire situation and lack of hope.

Significant Themes

• Benevolence and righteousness: Mr. Ye Hai's actions embody these virtues, contrasting with the inhuman and unrighteous behavior of the Jing Family's collateral branch.
• Loyalty and duty: Xu Yi's commitment to fulfilling Mr. Ye Hai's commission highlights his sense of loyalty and duty.
• Decline and despair: Jing Hesheng's situation illustrates the theme of decline and despair, reflecting the harsh realities of the times.

Character Interactions

• Mr. Ye Hai and Xu Yi: Mr. Ye Hai acts as a mentor figure, providing guidance and support to Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi and Jing Hesheng: Xu Yi's interaction with Jing Hesheng shows empathy and determination to help, while Jing Hesheng is initially disbelieving but eventually hopeful.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi visits Jing Hesheng, who is ill and delusional, believing Xu Yi has come to take away his daughter, Tao Tao.
• Xu Yi discovers the residence is eerily desolate and filled with cold, oppressive yin energy.
• He finds the gatekeeper turned into a zombie, the main gate turned to stone, and the courtyard transformed with tentacles and lotus demons.
• Xu Yi encounters two points of light floating three feet above him, which he believes are the towering figure from his dream.
• He navigates a ghost wall corridor and descends into a wine cellar, discovering a prison with ghostly shadows.
• A young woman, wounded and desperate, emerges from the darkness and begs Xu Yi for help.

Character Developments

• Jing Hesheng is now ill and mentally unstable, fearing the loss of his daughter.
• Xu Yi demonstrates bravery and caution as he investigates the strange occurrences in the residence.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and the uncanny: The residence is filled with eerie and terrifying phenomena, challenging Xu Yi's understanding of reality.
• Protection and guidance: The two points of light above Xu Yi's head seem to protect and guide him, echoing the towering figure from his dream.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi interacts with Jing Hesheng, who is now delusional and hostile.
• Xu Yi encounters the young woman in the prison, who begs for his help, but the nature of their interaction is yet to be determined.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi discovers a woman, Ji Xiao, imprisoned beneath the Jing Family estate, who he suspects is a fox demon.
• Ji Xiao reveals she was abducted by the Jing Family to be refined into a household immortal, a spirit that can bring wealth and fortune to a family.
• Xu Yi learns that Ji Xiao is connected to the Jing Family's decline and that she injured Jing Hesheng.
• Ji Xiao uses her spiritual power to control Xu Yi, making him help her escape after speaking to her for more than three minutes.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: Realizes he can sense spirituality and is excited about the possibility of entering the trade.
• Ji Xiao: Reveals her true form as a fox and demonstrates her ability to control others with her spirituality.

Significant Themes

• The power of spirituality and its ability to control and manipulate.
• The exploitation of spirits and immortals by humans, represented by the Night Roaming Gods.
• The dual nature of spirits and immortals, who can bring both fortune and misfortune.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Ji Xiao: Xu Yi questions Ji Xiao about her past and her connection to the Jing Family, while Ji Xiao tries to manipulate him into helping her escape.
• Xu Yi's Immortal Protectors: Though present, they do not intervene when Ji Xiao uses her spirituality on Xu Yi, suggesting they are not there to protect him but have another purpose.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Xiao, a fox spirit, uses her scent to overpower Xu Yi, who is unusually rich in spiritual energy.
• Xu Yi's spiritual energy reacts to Ji Xiao's scent, transforming it into a unique fragrance.
• Xu Yi loses consciousness after seeing a disturbing scene in Ji Xiao's pupils, and Ji Xiao is transformed into a stick of incense.
• Xu Yi wakes up tied to a chair, with Jing Tao present. Ji Xiao is under Jing Tao's shoe, now a stick of incense.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi: His spiritual energy is revealed to be powerful and unstable, capable of transforming a fox spirit into a physical object. He becomes more sensitive to scents after his experience.
• Ji Xiao: She is overpowered by Xu Yi's spiritual energy and transformed into a stick of incense.
• Jing Tao: She is revealed to be a student and the one who spoke to Xu Yi outside Candied Zhang's residence. She knows about spiritual energy and Night Roaming Gods, showing she has knowledge beyond her apparent age.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of spiritual energy, especially when it's unstable.
• The transformation of spiritual beings into physical objects or vice versa.
• The fear and curiosity humans have towards the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Ji Xiao: Their interaction results in Ji Xiao's transformation, showing the power of Xu Yi's spiritual energy.
• Xu Yi and Jing Tao: They meet again, with Jing Tao revealing her knowledge about spiritual energy and Night Roaming Gods. Their interaction is tense, with Jing Tao being wary of Xu Yi's spiritual energy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi learns about Spirit Remains, which are bones with special spirituality, and their potential dangers.
• Jing Tao explains that Ji Xiao's Spirit Remain, Fox Incense, can make anyone who smells it collapse uncontrollably for three minutes, with unknown consequences afterwards.
• Jing Tao warns Xu Yi not to use the Night Roaming God inheritance's ability to create Spirit Remains, as some are 'Living Remains' that are difficult to handle.
• Jing Tao reveals that the residence is filled with spiritual traps and that Ji Xiao was originally a human dancer who became a demon.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi shows caution and responsibility in handling the Night Roaming God inheritance.
• Jing Tao demonstrates her knowledge of spirituality and its dangers, as well as her determination in seeking vengeance against Ji Xiao.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of spirituality.
• The consequences of unchecked ambition and jealousy (as seen in Ji Xiao's transformation and actions).
• The importance of caution and responsibility in handling power.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Jing Tao engage in a serious conversation about the dangers of spirituality and Spirit Remains.
• Jing Tao shares her past experiences and the truth about Ji Xiao with Xu Yi, fostering a sense of trust and understanding between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jing Tao, driven by hatred, captures Ji Xiao and has her refined into incense by Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi inquires about Jing Tao's Night Roaming God inheritance, revealing his knowledge of ancient mythology and the differences between this world and his homeland.
• Jing Tao propositions Xu Yi to marry into her family and help her reclaim her family's business, but Xu Yi refuses, citing his principles.
• Jing Tao shares Mr. Ye Hai's backstory, revealing his origins and rise in the criminal underworld.

Character Developments

• Jing Tao: She shows vulnerability after avenging her family, revealing her exhaustion and desire for a stable life. Her proposition to Xu Yi indicates her desperation and willingness to take risks. Her maturity, beyond her years, is evident in her strategic thinking and understanding of human relationships.
• Xu Yi: He demonstrates his loyalty to his principles, refusing Jing Tao's offer despite the potential benefits. His naivety and lack of knowledge about Mr. Ye Hai's past are also highlighted.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and its consequences: Jing Tao's quest for revenge has consumed her, leaving her emotionally drained and desperate for stability.
• Power dynamics and social standing: Jing Tao's proposition to Xu Yi is driven by her desire to secure his loyalty and elevate her family's status.
• The jianghu code: Mr. Ye Hai's past illustrates the unwritten rules and hierarchies of the criminal underworld, where desperation and ruthlessness often prevail.

Character Interactions

• Jing Tao and Xu Yi: Their interaction reveals their differing motivations and values. Jing Tao is pragmatic and desperate, while Xu Yi is idealistic and loyal to his principles.
• Jing Tao and Mr. Ye Hai: Though not physically present, Mr. Ye Hai's influence is evident in Jing Tao's story. His past serves as a cautionary tale for Jing Tao, shaping her views on power and alliances.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mr. Ye Hai, a former low-life, becomes a respected figure in the Green Gang through his businesses and generosity.
• Xu Yi learns about Mr. Ye Hai's past and understands the importance of starting from small businesses.
• Xu Yi is held captive by Jing Tao, who wants him to help with her family's ointment factory. He is released after agreeing to help.
• Xu Yi discovers he can see spiritual phenomena and refine miasma into Spirit Remains, which surprises Jing Tao and her master.

Character Developments

• Mr. Ye Hai: Transforms from a low-life to a respected Green Gang member through businesses and generosity.
• Xu Yi: Demonstrates strong spiritual abilities, including seeing spiritual phenomena and refining miasma. He also shows cunning and resourcefulness.
• Jing Tao: Shows determination to save her family's factory and is resourceful in using her spiritual abilities. She seeks her master's help regarding Xu Yi's abilities.

Significant Themes

• The power of starting from small beginnings (Mr. Ye Hai's rise to power).
• The importance of respectability and reputation (Mr. Ye Hai's transformation, Xu Yi's interaction with him).
• The discovery and use of spiritual abilities (Xu Yi's newfound powers, Jing Tao's use of her abilities).

Character Interactions

• Mr. Ye Hai and Xu Yi: Mr. Ye Hai shares his story with Xu Yi, who understands the importance of his advice.
• Jing Tao and Xu Yi: Jing Tao captures Xu Yi and asks for his help, releasing him after he agrees. She later seeks her master's help regarding Xu Yi's abilities.
• Xu Yi and Jing Tao's ghost brother: Xu Yi interacts with Jing Tao's ghost brother, who is terrified of him due to his spiritual abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi discovers the spirituality within the Fox Incense and creates a makeshift weapon using a soda bottle.
• He visits his Second Senior Brother, Duan Hu, at the "Peacekeeping Hall" to discuss a business proposition.
• Xu Yi plans to take over the Lingtong Hall ointment factory to help the Jing Family.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi demonstrates his intelligence and resourcefulness in creating a weapon from the Fox Incense.
• Duan Hu shows concern for Xu Yi's well-being and tries to guide him, revealing his righteous nature and wisdom.

Significant Themes

• Benevolence and righteousness: Both Xu Yi and Duan Hu prioritize these values in their actions.
• Karma and retribution: Duan Hu warns Xu Yi about the consequences of doing evil deeds.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi seeks Duan Hu's help and shares his plan to assist the Jing Family.
• Duan Hu offers guidance and advice to Xu Yi, showing his care for his younger brother.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi meets Duan Hu, who agrees to help him in exchange for a half-stick of Fox Incense (Spirit Remains).
• Xu Yi, Duan Hu, and two helpers infiltrate a factory to steal its lease, business contracts, and company seal.
• Inside the factory, Xu Yi discovers Ji Xiao, whom he had previously refined into Fox Incense, alive and well.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi demonstrates his resourcefulness and capability by producing the valuable Fox Incense.
• Duan Hu shows his trustworthiness and willingness to help Xu Yi, valuing their brotherhood.
• Ji Xiao's survival and presence in the factory raise questions about her connection to the factory and her true nature.

Significant Themes

• Brotherhood and trust among underworld figures.
• The value of rare and powerful items like Fox Incense.
• The mysterious nature of Ji Xiao and her potential connection to the factory.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Duan Hu establish a bond of brotherhood and trust, with Duan Hu agreeing to help Xu Yi without hesitation.
• Xu Yi and Ji Xiao have a tense, unspoken encounter through the window, with Ji Xiao unaware of Xu Yi's presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi infiltrates Lingtong Hall, capturing a woman who appears identical to Ji Xiao.
• He retrieves crucial documents, including the company seal, purchase contracts, and personnel files.
• He brings the captured woman (Ji Xiao) to the Jing Family residence, where they discover she's a fox demon.
• Xu Yi and Jing Tao discuss the ointment factory's future, and Xu Yi takes the personnel file to handle the marked individuals.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi demonstrates his cunning, stealth, and knowledge of the underworld, earning respect from Bao Dating.
• Jing Tao shows her decisiveness and understanding of business affairs, reminiscent of her father.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Identity: The appearance of two identical Ji Xiao figures raises questions about identity and deception.
• Business Acumen: Both Xu Yi and Jing Tao exhibit sharp business instincts, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking in their world.
• Underworld Connections: Xu Yi's interaction with Bao Dating emphasizes the complex network of relationships and information exchange within the criminal underworld.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Jing Tao: They work together, showing mutual respect and understanding. Jing Tao sees Xu Yi as a reminder of her father, while Xu Yi treats her with deference.
• Xu Yi and Bao Dating: They exchange underworld jargon, establishing trust and cooperation. This interaction shows Xu Yi's connection to the criminal underworld and his understanding of its codes.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Yi meets Bao Dating (Old Zhang), an informant who provides detailed information about targets.
• Xu Yi discovers Bao Dating has the appearance of a cockroach spirit or demon in his black-and-white vision.
• Xu Yi, Duan Hu, and others execute their targets in the 38th Shop District.
• Xu Yi injures his left wrist during a scuffle and seeks treatment at a bathhouse.
• He buys a newspaper and reads about recent events while having breakfast.

Character Developments

• Xu Yi demonstrates his ruthlessness and efficiency in carrying out assassinations.
• Xu Yi shows concern for innocent lives, even during a mission.
• Bao Dating's true nature is revealed, hinting at his supernatural abilities.
• Duan Hu is portrayed as experienced and reliable but unaware of Bao Dating's full capabilities.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality and inequality of life in Puxi City, with prosperity in the city center contrasting with the poverty and crime in districts like the 38th Shop.
• The supernatural elements and Xu Yi's ability to see spirits in his black-and-white vision.
• The theme of information and its power, as Bao Dating provides crucial data for the assassinations.

Character Interactions

• Xu Yi and Duan Hu work together, dividing targets and executing their plan.
• Xu Yi observes Bao Dating's strange behavior and discovers his supernatural appearance.
• Xu Yi interacts with the newsboy and the bathhouse attendant, showing his adaptability to everyday life.
• An unknown old man sits opposite Xu Yi at the breakfast stall, hinting at a possible encounter or interaction.