Chapter Summaries

At a cocktail party after the Gemini chip’s successful press conference, Xu Shi managed the guests while Gu Yi reported that a skilled hacker was attacking their firewall. Xie Qingyan confronted Xu Shi about Gu Yi and Ye Shanshan, then revealed she had arranged something of her own to frustrate his plans.

• The press conference demonstrated that the Gemini chip could greatly enhance the abilities of Ascendants below B-rank, drawing major interest to Serpent Coil and Prism’s new partnership.
• Xu Shi told Gu Yi to continue following her earlier instructions as she reported that the firewall attacks had grown stronger and identified the hacker as Nightmare.
• Xie Qingyan met Gu Yi, recognized her from an earlier phone call, and offered to seek her help with technical problems.
• Xie Qingyan accused Xu Shi of bullying Ye Shanshan, but Ye Shanshan denied it and then followed Xie Qingyan away.
• Xie Qingyan confirmed that Ye Shanshan had completed her arrangements and resolved to thwart Xu Shi’s plans in Sin City.

Xu Shi agreed to supply the Inspection Bureau with Gemini chips before a planned attack disrupted the banquet. Tang Shuang confronted the attackers, including Lei Song, as Xu Shi kept Gu Yi safe.

• Tang Shuang asked Xu Shi to arrange a Gemini chip pre-order, and he agreed to give the Inspection Bureau priority and a discount.
• Xu Shi joked that Tang Shuang could thank him with immunity tokens, while Gu Yi hid behind him to avoid Tang Shuang's notice.
• Smoke grenades and tear gas erupted in the banquet hall, and Xu Shi pulled Gu Yi and Tang Shuang behind a table.
• Xu Shi gave Gu Yi a pistol and recognized the attack as Shen He's diversion to rescue Luo Zhikang.
• Lei Song led armed men into the hall, and Tang Shuang attacked him, vowing to kill him.

Tang Shuang and the bodyguards defeated Lei Song’s gang at the banquet, and Inspection Bureau reinforcements secured the venue. Xu Shi killed Lei Song, then asked Gu Yi about the situation at headquarters as he prepared for the next move.

• Tang Shuang dodged Lei Song’s gunfire and battered him with batons until he could no longer fight back.
• The bodyguards rallied and defeated the remaining gang members, while Inspection Bureau reinforcements took control of the area outside.
• Xu Shi confronted the wounded Lei Song and told him the attackers had been used as disposable pawns.
• Xu Shi shot and killed Lei Song, then asked Gu Yi how things were going at headquarters.

After the cocktail party crisis, Xu Shi encountered his grandfather Wen Shengkui before leaving, while Shen He led a raid to rescue Luo Zhikang. Shen He found Luo, but their escape was interrupted when Xia Wuyou appeared.

• Xu Shi exchanged farewells with Tang Shuang and Xie Qingyan after the Inspection Bureau ended the crisis at the cocktail party.
• Wen Shengkui told Xu Shi to visit his company if he truly intended to apologize, then left with Ning Wei.
• Zhang Shinian warned Shen He that trouble might already have happened to Lei Song and said he could give the rescue team ten minutes.
• Shen He used the security breach to lead his team into the facility and found Luo Zhikang in the detention room.
• Shen He carried Luo Zhikang out as Luo said he had deciphered Sea Crane's structure and the Overlimit Project.
• Shen He and his group saw Xia Wuyou in exoskeleton armor, and Shen He asked why she was there.

Shen He confronted Xia Wuyou over taking Luo Zhikang, but Xu Shi revealed that he had lured Shen He into a trap and that Xia Wuyou had chosen her actions willingly. When Shen He used his mental abilities to hurt Xia Wuyou, Xu Shi pulled her into his arms to protect her.

• Shen He met Xia Wuyou as she blocked him from taking Luo Zhikang and demanded to know why she opposed him.
• Xu Shi arrived with Gu Yi and admitted that he had tipped Shen He off about Luo Zhikang to lure him into a trap.
• Xu Shi denied coercing Lin Yue or Xia Wuyou and said Xia Wuyou had chosen her own path.
• Xia Wuyou told Shen He that she had acted voluntarily and showed affection toward Xu Shi.
• Shen He reacted with rage and jealousy, then used his mental abilities to leave Xia Wuyou dazed and in pain.
• Xu Shi pulled Xia Wuyou into his arms and promised not to let Shen He hurt her.

Xu Shi stopped Shen He from using United Will to control Xia Wuyou, and she rejected Shen He and severed their relationship. Xia Wuyou attacked him, but a flash of white light let him escape.

• Xu Shi used Malice Entropy to counter Shen He's United Will and condemned him for trying to override Xia Wuyou's wishes.
• Xia Wuyou recovered, understood Shen He had tried to control her, and ended their relationship.
• Shen He suffered backlash as his ability failed, while Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou exchanged flirtatious remarks.
• Xia Wuyou attacked Shen He with her gravity-manipulating domain, leaving him coughing blood.
• A burst of white light appeared from Shen He's chest, and he vanished, leaving bloodstains behind.

Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou defeated Shen He’s assault on the consortium building, but Shen He escaped through the Beacon. Xu Shi prepared to take control of District Six while Xia Wuyou rested in his arms, and Gu Yi discovered she felt jealous watching them.

• The Beacon revived Shen He and let him escape despite Xia Wuyou nearly killing him, while Xu Shi reassured her that he did not blame her.
• Xu Shi ordered Xia Wuyou to kill the remaining attackers, including Luo Zhikang, and every intruder died.
• After the building was secured, Xia Wuyou rested in Xu Shi’s arms as she recovered from her ability’s physical strain and Shen He’s mental interference.
• Xu Shi learned that Shen He had secretly replaced Zhang Shijun as leader of Disgu and planned to use District Six as an escape route, so he prepared to seize the district and watched a live broadcast.
• Gu Yi watched Xu Shi and the sleeping Xia Wuyou together, felt jealous, and blamed Xu Shi for giving her the wrong lollipop flavor.

Zhang Shinian’s attempt to monitor Serpent Coil’s network was crushed, and the Long Saber Party launched an assault on Disgu with advanced Serpent Coil equipment. In District Eight, Lin Yue rushed to help Shen He’s base while Lin Xing suggested bringing everyone along to seize the opportunity.

• Zhang Shinian watched for signs of Shen He’s progress while worrying about the team and Luo Zhikang.
• A hacker mocked Zhang Shinian and disabled his computer in five seconds, leaving him unable to contact Shen He.
• The Long Saber Party attacked Disgu with powerful Serpent Coil weapons and armored vehicles, overwhelming Zhang Shinian’s defenses.
• Lin Yue saw the fighting in District Six and decided to go there, and Lin Xing offered to bring the others along.

Lin Yue and Lin Xing recovered Disgu’s records on its sex-doll business and escaped before the Long Saber Party arrived, though Lin Yue was disturbed by how familiar Lin Xing’s smile seemed. Ding Jun captured District Six but found the records missing, then learned Xu Shi had taken them and demanded half the district for his people.

• Lin Yue and Lin Xing found Disgu’s records detailing buyers’ preferences and the people they had targeted and altered.
• Lin Xing urged Lin Yue to leave as the Long Saber Party approached, and Lin Yue noticed her smile resembled Xu Shi’s expression while he tortured her.
• Ding Jun’s forces seized District Six and overwhelmed the gangs that tried to exploit the chaos.
• Ding Jun found Disgu’s headquarters guards dead and its safes emptied, with the core documents gone.
• Xu Shi told Ding Jun he had sent people to take the documents and asked him to hand half of District Six’s territory to Xu Shi’s people.

Xu Shi forced Ding Jun to give up half of District Six and revealed that he had arranged to keep White Iron out of the conflict. As Ye Shanshan led Song Ziyou toward District Seven to attack the Long Saber Party, Su Lin blocked their way on Xu Shi’s orders.

• Xu Shi ordered Ding Jun to hand over half of District Six, and Ding Jun reluctantly agreed to stabilize the district first.
• Xu Shi reflected on his plan to support Lin Yue’s rise and make her seek revenge against him, while telling Ding Jun that White Iron had been kept from the fight.
• Ye Shanshan had delivered Xie Qingyan’s orders to Song Ziyou an hour before the trouble, directing White Iron to attack whoever started it.
• Ye Shanshan persuaded Song Ziyou to head for District Seven and strike at the Long Saber Party’s stronghold.
• Su Lin intercepted Ye Shanshan and Song Ziyou near District Seven, declaring the area off-limits on Xu Shi’s orders.

Su Lin stopped Ye Shanshan’s attempt to seize White Iron and defeated her in a brief fight, leaving Song Ziyou to withdraw with his people. The chapter ended with Su Lin sending a warning to Xie Qingyan and drawing two turtles on the unconscious Ye Shanshan’s face.

• Ye Shanshan questioned Su Lin’s presence at White Iron and suspected Song Ziyou of revealing that the base belonged to Xie Qingyan, but he denied knowing anything.
• Ye Shanshan attacked Su Lin with a stun gun, and the two A-rank Ascendants fought while Song Ziyou and his subordinates watched.
• Su Lin gained the advantage and struck Ye Shanshan with a tranquilizer needle, knocking her unconscious.
• Su Lin told Song Ziyou to take Ye Shanshan back and warn Xie Qingyan not to target their young master, and Song Ziyou agreed to withdraw.
• Su Lin drew two turtles on Ye Shanshan’s face before leading her squad away.

After defeating Shen He and securing control of Spark and District Six, Xu Shi returned home exhausted with Gu Yi. Seeing that Gu Yi felt left out of the night's excitement, he invited her to go street racing with him.

• Xu Shi reflected that Shen He had lost his forces and influence, while Xia Wuyou and the Inspection Bureau had turned against him and District Six had fallen under Xu Shi's control.
• Xu Shi took Gu Yi home after Xia Wuyou left to visit her aunt, and he collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted from the press conference and the night's events.
• Gu Yi admitted that she felt dissatisfied because she had barely participated in the action, despite following Xu Shi throughout the night.
• Xu Shi offered to take Gu Yi to find some excitement, then explained that he meant street racing.

Xu Shi took Gu Yi street racing on a hoverbike to lift her spirits, and she ended the night feeling excited and closer to him. Gu Yi asked Xu Shi to teach her to ride, while he insisted she keep their midnight outing from Su Lin.

• Gu Yi was stunned by Xu Shi’s collection of expensive hoverbikes and picked one for a ride.
• Xu Shi raced through the quiet streets at high speed while Gu Yi clung to him and begged him to slow down.
• After the ride, Gu Yi recovered from her fear and realized the excitement had lifted her gloom.
• Xu Shi asked Gu Yi not to tell Su Lin about the street racing, and Gu Yi teased him before asking him to teach her to ride.
• Gu Yi claimed she had set a mountain-road racing record, but her stomach growled.

Gu Yi told Xu Shi how her mother’s death had driven her to become an electronic kidnapper so people would notice her, and admitted that she had come to care for him. The late-night conversation ended with Xu Shi drawing her close and invoking Malice Entropy—Desire.

• Gu Yi and Xu Shi went home with fried skewers and beer, then shared their late-night meal while teasing each other.
• Gu Yi explained that her mother had died after the neighbors ignored her pleas for help, inspiring her to make people notice her by becoming an electronic kidnapper.
• Gu Yi said Xu Shi had changed her life and admitted she liked him, then suggested they become sworn brothers.
• Xu Shi pulled Gu Yi into his arms and pointed out that her upset feelings were not only about missing a chance to cause trouble.
• Gu Yi hesitated before asking what Xu Shi wanted to do, and red light flashed in his eyes as he invoked Malice Entropy—Desire.

After Gu Yi woke in Xu Shi’s bed, they discovered a strange mark between her collarbones that Xu Shi suspected was a Sacred Mark formed when her Malice Entropy corruption reached one hundred percent. They emerged late in the day to find Su Lin waiting in the living room, angry after returning from Sin City and hearing them upstairs.

• Gu Yi woke beside Xu Shi and recalled how their failed brotherhood oath had led to them sleeping together.
• Xu Shi noticed a diamond-shaped mark between Gu Yi’s collarbones and suspected it was an external sign of her completed corruption.
• Xu Shi explained his theory about the mark and how the power from those carrying his seeds strengthened his control over Malice Entropy.
• Gu Yi teased Xu Shi about having a fiancée, and he threatened to dock her pay for missing work before they resumed flirting.
• Xu Shi and Gu Yi came downstairs in the afternoon and found Su Lin waiting, resentful after returning from Sin City and hearing them upstairs.
• Xu Shi wondered whether he should have brought Su Lin along too.

Su Lin reflected on her changing feelings toward Xu Shi as he thanked her for supporting him. Meanwhile, Xu Shi managed Serpent Coil’s Gemini chip launch and waited for Shark Tooth to respond, until He Laosan contacted him to arrange a face-to-face meeting.

• Su Lin wondered why Xu Shi’s recent independence made her uneasy, and Xu Shi teased her before thanking her for her help.
• Xu Shi explained that planning the operation against Spark had been exhausting and offered Su Lin a reward, which she declined as part of her duty.
• Serpent Coil ramped up Gemini chip production as Xu Shi’s public reputation improved and the company received a flood of orders.
• Xu Shi decided to limit chip sales to preserve their value and coordinated supply plans with Xie Qingyan.
• Xu Shi waited for Shark Tooth to react to the Gemini launch, then received a call from He Laosan requesting an in-person discussion.

Tang Shuang visited Xu Shi to thank him for delivering discounted chips to the Inspection Bureau, and Xu Shi asked her for feedback while hinting at future upgrades. She rushed to a riot at a Shark Tooth warehouse storing Gemini, where she helped suppress the attackers before recognizing a familiar Armored Man charging at them.

• Tang Shuang delivered the remaining payment and a gift to Xu Shi, thanking him for the Inspection Bureau's discounted chip shipment.
• Xu Shi asked Tang Shuang for feedback on the chips and hinted that future upgrades could receive favorable treatment if she accepted his earlier suggestion.
• Adjutant Miss alerted Tang Shuang to a riot at a District 14 warehouse, so Tang Shuang left Xu Shi's office to respond.
• Tang Shuang learned the rioters had attacked a Shark Tooth warehouse storing Gemini and that Shark Tooth's unchipped guards had suffered heavier casualties.
• Tang Shuang used a kinetic sniper rifle to shoot the rioters and help drive them into a corner.
• A familiar figure charged toward Tang Shuang and the others with an Alloy Battle Blade, and Tang Shuang recognized him as the Armored Man.

Tang Shuang failed to capture Xia Wuyou after their fight destroyed Shark Tooth’s warehouse, leaving the Inspection Bureau facing serious consequences. The losses also pushed He Yuqiang to consider submitting to Xu Shi, whom he saw as his only way out.

• Tang Shuang used upgraded equipment to fight Xia Wuyou, but neither her close-range attacks nor her other weapons gained an advantage.
• Xia Wuyou detonated timed bombs, escaped during the chaos, and left Shark Tooth’s warehouse burning; Tang Shuang’s pursuit failed.
• Tang Shuang recognized the Gemini chip’s importance and reconsidered Xu Shi’s offer of special access, though she remained reluctant.
• He Yuqiang learned that the chips he had bought were destroyed and realized that he might have to rely on Xu Shi to escape his worsening situation.

Xu Shi reflected on how he had arranged the warehouse attack to weaken He Yuqiang and draw Tang Shuang closer to his side. After Xia Wuyou reported that the operation had gone smoothly, she asked Xu Shi to hug her, then invited him to visit Auntie Ke'an.

• Xu Shi considered how the attack would misdirect Tang Shuang while increasing her reliance on him.
• Xia Wuyou visited Xu Shi and reported that the task had gone smoothly without her being hurt.
• Xu Shi noticed Xia Wuyou wanted something and prompted her to ask for a hug.
• Xu Shi held Xia Wuyou while she slept, and she rested in his arms for two hours.
• Xia Wuyou invited Xu Shi to visit Auntie Ke'an, but asked him to wait a little longer so she could stay close to him.

Xu Shi visited Xia Ke'an at the hospital, where they discussed his recent actions in Night Sin City and Xia Wuyou’s relationship with Shen He. Xia Ke'an raised concerns about Xu Shi’s own responsibilities, including his company, fiancée, and Long City.

• Xu Shi and Xia Wuyou visited Xia Ke'an, who had recovered enough to read and move around by herself.
• Xia Ke'an sent Xia Wuyou away so she could speak privately with Xu Shi, then teased him for taking so long to visit.
• Xia Ke'an acknowledged Xu Shi’s actions against Spark and Shark Tooth and thanked him for helping Xia Wuyou see the truth about Shen He.
• Xu Shi insisted that Xia Ke'an’s recovery mattered to him as much as it did to Xia Wuyou.
• Xia Ke'an urged Xu Shi to consider his company, his fiancée, and Long City, leaving him to face her concerns.