Chapter Summaries

Su Li obtained a forged freeman identity and saw how war had left Grey Gull Port full of vulnerable civilians. Soldiers stopped him in the street, took his papers, and treated him as an easy target.

• Su Li accepted Little Jack's forged identity as a freeman from Blue Leaf Town, though he doubted the old forger's explanation.
• Su Li wandered through Grey Gull Port and saw that able-bodied men were scarce amid the war's devastation.
• Su Li bought grilled squid from an elderly vendor and let her keep the extra money.
• Two soldiers stopped Su Li, demanded that he remove his hat, and inspected his papers.
• The bearded soldier read Su Li's identity, took the parchment, and sneered that Su Li was only a commoner.

Su Li let himself be conscripted into the army so he could learn about the world’s Breathing Methods and battle aura. At the western training ground, he told the one-armed officer that he could forge metal, and the officer considered what to do with him.

• Su Li decided to accept the forced enlistment to study the kingdom’s military and seek a Breathing Method.
• The bearded man threatened Su Li into joining, promised training after three battles, and confiscated his black horse.
• Su Li went to the western training ground, where hundreds of ragged recruits waited under armed overseers.
• Su Li told the one-armed registration officer that he could forge metal, and the officer scrutinized his delicate, callus-free hands.

Su Li was registered as a blacksmith and confined with other recruits before being marched out of Grey Gull Port toward Blackstone Fortress. After he beat back a camp bully, Pete asked him to look out for him on the dangerous journey ahead.

• Su Li accepted a blacksmith registration and received tag number 1111 before settling into the filthy recruit camp.
• A burly camp bully tried to rob and assault Su Li, but Su Li struck him down with a single slap and sent him away.
• At dawn, the bearded soldier drove the recruits from the camp and led them out of Grey Gull Port with only black bread for rations.
• Su Li learned from Pete that the recruits were headed to Blackstone Fortress, where Baris magic cannons made the fighting fierce.
• Pete told Su Li he had been seized while emptying nightsoil and asked Su Li to look out for him; Su Li gave him a vague reply.

Su Li reached Blackstone Fortress and was ordered to prove his worth as a blacksmith by forging a usable sword. He crafted a blade powerful enough to slice through a reinforced practice dummy, leaving the officer stunned.

• At Blackstone Fortress, a young officer dismissed the ragged recruits but took Su Li to the armory after learning he was a blacksmith.
• The officer ordered Su Li to forge a usable sword or be sent to the mass grave.
• Su Li criticized the furnace's heat, then used his small hammer and Sword Spirit Root to forge a longsword.
• Su Li handed the finished blade to the officer, who tested it by cutting a cowhide-wrapped wooden dummy with an iron core cleanly in two.

Su Li’s sword revealed him as a Magic Forger, and Count Remington decided to secure his services for his own ambitions. Su Li recognized the count’s attempt to win him over as Ryan brought him gold and two women, leaving him to decide how to respond.

• Su Li forged a longsword that impressed Ryan, who took it to Count Remington and revealed its extraordinary aether power.
• Count Remington recognized Su Li as a potential Magic Forger and ordered Ryan to send the Armory’s witnesses to the front-line suicide corps to keep the discovery secret.
• Count Remington ordered gold and two women sent to Su Li, intending to treat him as an honored guest and keep him under his control.
• Su Li enjoyed his private quarters and food, then opened the door to Ryan, who had arrived with the two women and a heavy chest.

Su Li accepted Count Remington’s offer of gold and a meeting at Blackstone Fortress, then discovered that the two women sent to his room were assassins. He dodged their first attack and raced for his iron hammer.

• Ryan delivered a chest of Gold Coins and offered Su Li a monthly chest, two women, and a banquet with Count Remington.
• Su Li agreed to meet the Count but sent the women away, refusing their advances out of loyalty to Saina.
• The women locked the door, drew blue-glinting daggers, and revealed themselves as assassins.
• The taller woman lunged at Su Li, who dodged her attack and threw a rosewood chair at her.
• The taller woman smashed the chair with one punch, and Su Li dashed toward the bundle containing his iron hammer.

Su Li was killed by two assassin knights after discovering their aether-powered combat technique, then returned to the settlement space for his reincarnation evaluation. The system revealed that his sword had made him a rare Magic Forger, though his overall rating was only D+.

• Su Li tried to imitate the women’s Knight Breathing Technique but was overwhelmed by their coordinated dagger attacks.
• The tall woman stabbed Su Li through the heart, and he died beside the chest of gold coins.
• Su Li woke in the familiar settlement space, healed and furious that he had lost the gold.
• The system rated Su Li’s survival, wealth, progeny, and legendary status, then assigned him an overall D+ rating.
• Su Li learned that Count Remington had secretly identified him as one of the kingdom’s three Magic Forgers.

After receiving the Space Ring trait, Su Li reincarnated beneath the Old Locust Tree in Wading Village and reunited with Saina, who remembered their previous life. The chapter ended with Saina urging him to leave the village.

• Su Li drew the D-rank Space Ring trait, which gave him a 27-cubic-meter storage space where time stopped.
• Su Li reincarnated beneath the Old Locust Tree and confirmed that the bronze ring and its storage space had carried over.
• Saina found Su Li and, remembering their previous life, cried and shook him for returning to die in Wading Village.
• Saina groped Su Li and offered to put out his arousal, but he stopped her and said he would settle the score with the people who had killed him.
• Saina grew quiet, then told Su Li to leave Wading Village and go to the city or somewhere else.

After returning from death, Su Li stopped Saina from sending him away and rekindled their marriage. He rejected a return to smithing and showed her that his bronze ring could make objects disappear.

• Saina told Su Li she was unworthy of him and urged him to find a princess or fairy.
• Su Li kissed Saina and reassured her that he wanted her, then they spent the night together.
• Saina asked whether they would return to work at the smithy, and Su Li said he planned to become a wealthy landowner instead.
• Su Li showed Saina his bronze ring and made a fist-sized Stone disappear.

Su Li showed Saina the Space Ring and planned to use it to get rich, but after they sneaked into Old Buck’s kitchen for food, he decided to stay in Wading Village with her instead. Saina was moved by his choice as the chapter ended.

• Su Li made a stone appear from his Space Ring, and Saina mistook him for a mage.
• Su Li and Saina sneaked into Old Buck’s kitchen and ate the leftover roast chicken.
• Su Li stored and retrieved the plate and chicken with the Space Ring, demonstrating that it kept food warm.
• Su Li weighed the dangers beyond the village and decided to remain in Wading Village with Saina.
• Saina dropped the piece of chicken in her mouth when Su Li told her he would stay.

Su Li spent a month helping Old Buck at the forge while secretly making refined-steel daggers to sell for money. After finishing the latest batch of work, he prepared to head to Grey Gull Port, where Saina emerged from the house as he got ready to leave.

• Su Li stayed with Saina and worked as Old Buck's son-in-law in Wading Village.
• Su Li forged iron with uncanny strength and precision, impressing Old Buck and Martha.
• Su Li secretly forged thirty refined-steel daggers infused with aether and planned to trade them in town for gold.
• Old Buck said Old Pete would arrive with a carriage to collect the family's goods, while Su Li planned to visit Grey Gull Port for business.
• Su Li finished his morning forging and went to the water vat as Saina emerged from the house in her nightgown.

Su Li traveled to Grey Gull Port to obtain clean identity papers and buy supplies for Saina, then tried to enter the Adventurers' Guild but was turned away for being a commoner. He returned to Wading Village that evening and found Saina sewing at home.

• Su Li left Wading Village after Saina warned him to be careful, and Old Pete told him about wartime conscription and the Baris Empire's new magic cannon.
• Su Li reached Grey Gull Port, avoided patrols, and traded an enchanted dagger to Old Jack for paperwork that would give him a clean Resident ID.
• Su Li sold more daggers to a goblin merchant and spent his Gold Coins on food, ale, clothes, boots, salt, and tobacco.
• Su Li approached the Adventurers' Guild, but its guards barred him from entering because he was a commoner while Baron Chelsea's eldest son was admitted without showing a crest.
• Su Li returned to Wading Village by evening and found Saina mending clothes in the main room.

Su Li brought Saina expensive food and new clothes after earning money by forging knives from scrap iron, and the two spent the night together. The next morning, he explained his earnings to Old Buck and gave Martha refined salt, while claiming all the workshop’s scrap iron for himself.

• Su Li surprised Saina with roast meat, white rolls, a silk dress, refined salt, and sheepskin boots, then spent the night with her.
• Saina learned Su Li had forged knives from discarded scrap iron and realized Old Buck had thrown away valuable material.
• Su Li told Saina he would take charge of the workshop’s scrap iron and urged her to wear her new clothes and boots.
• Old Buck found roast meat, white bread, and fine tobacco in the kitchen and suspected Su Li had stolen them.
• Su Li explained that he had honestly sold knives made from scrap iron and declared that all future workshop scrap belonged to him.
• Su Li gave Martha jars of refined salt, and she welcomed his gifts while Old Buck stayed silent.

Su Li grew wealthy by forging and selling aether-infused weapons, then secured a baronial title as war and conscription threatened Wading Village. He and Saina left for Saining City while Old Buck and Martha stayed behind with money for protection.

• Su Li forged enchanted weapons and sold them through Old Jack and Officer Ryan, accumulating gold and other valuables.
• Seven years passed, and Su Li and Saina had become prosperous adults living together in Wading Village.
• As the Baris Empire's magic-guided cannons devastated Blackstone Fortress, Orenda's press gangs began conscripting even young children.
• Su Li paid Ryan five thousand gold coins to obtain a baronial patent and decided to move with Saina to Saining City.
• Su Li gave Old Buck and Martha five hundred gold coins and urged them to use the money to protect themselves from conscription.
• Su Li and Saina departed Wading Village in two luxurious carriages, while Old Buck and Martha remained behind.

Baron Su Li sought a high-level Knight Breathing Technique but was turned away by Violet Trading House because his title was purchased. Elena offered him access to the Iris Family’s resources if he married her, but he rejected her and left to remain loyal to Saina.

• Su Li complained to Saina that Violet Trading House had refused to sell him a breathing technique because they did not recognize his purchased baron title.
• Elena invited Su Li to Red Leaf Manor after learning of his failed attempt to buy a technique.
• Elena offered Su Li access to high-level breathing techniques and the Iris Family’s resources if he married into her family.
• Su Li refused Elena’s proposal because he already had a wife, and he defended Saina when Elena insulted her.
• Elena angrily threatened to block Su Li from obtaining breathing techniques in the royal capital, but he left without looking back.

Su Li rejected Elena’s attempt to make him beg for a high-tier Knight Breathing Technique and spent the Flower God Festival at home with Saina, watching a play he had arranged. Elena visited his villa to confront him, but she found him relaxed with Saina and was stunned by the performance unfolding onstage.

• Su Li returned home, where Saina greeted him and reminded him of the Flower God Festival; he chose to celebrate at home with a play instead of going out.
• Su Li hired a theater troupe to perform a story based on Titanic, and Saina became engrossed in its romance.
• At Red Leaf Manor, Elena grew furious that Su Li had not come to beg for a breathing technique and ordered her carriage to his villa.
• Elena entered Su Li’s backyard and found him lounging with Saina while actors performed on a wooden stage.
• Elena told Su Li that only she could provide him with a breathing technique, but he refused to practice one rather than submit to the nobles’ airs.
• A male actor shouted, “If you jump, I’ll jump with you!” and Elena turned toward the stage.

Elena became a daily visitor to Su Li’s theater, where she and Saina bonded over the plays despite their rivalry. Elena offered to help Su Li obtain a breathing technique in exchange for a happy ending, and five years later Su Li was still relaxing in the backyard of No. 18 Broom Avenue.

• Elena became absorbed in Su Li’s tragic plays and returned to No. 18 Broom Avenue every afternoon, while Saina competed with her for Su Li’s attention.
• Elena and Saina bonded while condemning the villains in Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai’s story.
• After the play, Elena offered to settle Su Li’s breathing technique without requiring him to marry into her family, provided the next play had a happy ending.
• Elena teased Su Li about her figure before leaving, and Saina confronted Su Li for looking at her.
• Su Li and Saina made up in the backyard, and five years passed before Su Li was shown reclining in a rattan chair in Saining City.

After five years with Saina, Su Li demanded the high-level Breathing Technique Elena had promised him, but Elena explained that the Iris Family’s Violet Breathing Technique could not be shared with an outsider. Elena proposed that Su Li marry into her family in name so he could practice it legally, leaving Saina and Elena arguing over him.

• Su Li confronted Elena about failing to provide the promised high-level Knight Breathing Technique after five years.
• Elena explained that the Violet Breathing Technique was a closely guarded family secret and that sharing it with an outsider could endanger her family.
• Su Li threatened to make Elena pay for future performances, and Elena reminded him that she had handled local nobles who caused trouble for him and Saina.
• Elena proposed a legal fake marriage-in so Su Li could become a member of the Iris Family and practice its Breathing Technique.
• Saina accused Elena of using the marriage proposal to pursue Su Li, and the two women argued over him.

With the Baris Empire advancing, Elena persuaded Su Li to join the Iris Family through a marriage in name, offering him protection and a high-level Violet Breathing Technique. Su Li arrived at Red Leaf Manor for the wedding, where powerful nobles gathered because they believed he was a genuine Magic Forger.

• Elena warned Su Li that the front lines were worsening and the royal capital would conscript nobles, then offered him refuge under the Iris Family.
• Su Li agreed to Elena's proposal on the conditions that Saina could come with him and that he and Elena would keep separate rooms; Elena accepted under pressure.
• The next morning, Saina helped Su Li dress and warned him to be careful among the nobles before he left for Red Leaf Manor.
• Su Li arrived at Red Leaf Manor, where influential nobles had gathered for his marriage to Elena.
• A bearded earl and a marquis discussed Su Li's reputation as a genuine Magic Forger, a rare craft supposedly possessed by only two people in the empire.

At his wedding banquet, Su Li won the attention of nobles and merchants eager to profit from his enchanted weapons, surprising Elena, who had expected him to be snubbed. Old Ford then took Su Li to his study and gave him a transcribed copy of the Violet Breathing Technique.

• Count Bigbeard and other aristocrats regretted missing their chance to ally with Su Li and discussed how his enchanted shortswords could pierce the Baris Empire's armor.
• Su Li arrived at the manor, where nobles and a merchant eagerly courted him with offers and business proposals.
• Elena saw the nobles surrounding Su Li, abandoned her plan to rescue him from a snub, and joined him at the banquet.
• Old Ford led Su Li to his study and handed him a transcribed copy of the Violet Breathing Technique, warning that its violent aether absorption could burst an ordinary knight's blood vessels.
• Su Li opened the lead box and found the yellowed parchment scroll inside.