Chapter Summaries

Qian Renxue arranged for Jiang Chen to join her personal guards under a fabricated background and told him to memorize the documents. After sharing stories late into the night, she ordered him to leave, but Jiang Chen tried to persuade her to let him stay.

• Qian Renxue appointed Jiang Chen as the ninth member of her personal guards, whose members did not know her true identity.
• Qian Renxue gave Jiang Chen documents describing his false background as an unaffiliated soul master and a distant relative of the guard captain.
• Qian Renxue told Jiang Chen to memorize the documents and wait for the captain to contact him the next day or the day after.
• Jiang Chen stayed with Qian Renxue to tell her stories, and the conversation continued until late at night.
• Qian Renxue told Jiang Chen to leave, but he teased her by asking to stay and warm her bed.

Jiang Chen left Qian Renxue after learning about Xiao Ying’s tragic past and promising not to bully her. Qian Renxue allowed him to visit again, and he returned through the secret passage to the courtyard.

• Qian Renxue kicked Jiang Chen and told him Xiao Ying was seventeen, six years older than him.
• Jiang Chen admitted he had beaten Xiao Ying until she cried, and Qian Renxue warned him not to bully her.
• Qian Renxue explained that Xiao Ying’s father had helped her replace Xue Qinghe by assassinating Emperor Xue Ye, then died from his injuries.
• Qian Renxue told Jiang Chen to stay in the courtyard until she arranged for the guard captain to bring him in, and agreed he could visit her that night if he brought Xiao Ying.
• Jiang Chen left through the secret passage and returned beneath Xiao Ying’s room in less than ten minutes.

Jiang Chen emerged from a hidden exit and startled Xiao Ying, who suspected he had done something to Xue'er. He explained that he and Xue'er had only discussed Spirit Hall, then asked Xiao Ying to arrange a room for him.

• Jiang Chen checked that the young woman above was asleep, knocked on the floor, and opened the exit.
• Xiao Ying woke, drew her dagger, and demanded to know who Jiang Chen was.
• Jiang Chen removed his mask and identified himself, then dodged Xiao Ying's attack and took her dagger.
• Jiang Chen told Xiao Ying that Xue'er had asked him to stay for a few days and that he and Xue'er had only talked about Spirit Hall.
• Xiao Ying told Jiang Chen to leave, but he asked her to arrange a room and mocked her as the Flat-Chested Princess.

After Jiang Chen angered Xiao Ying with a crude joke, he realized he needed to apologize and decided to cook for her. He left to buy ingredients early that morning.

• Jiang Chen mocked Xiao Ying about her hair and compared her to Princess Taiping, making her furious.
• Jiang Chen hid on the roof while Xiao Ying shouted insults below.
• The next morning, Xiao Ying ignored Jiang Chen when he greeted her and asked her to bring him breakfast.
• Jiang Chen noticed the dusty kitchen and decided to cook an apology meal for Xiao Ying.
• Jiang Chen left to buy ingredients before Qian Renxue's arranged guard captain arrived.

Jiang Chen apologized to Xiao Ying and promised her a surprise, then began preparing food in the kitchen. Xiao Ying remained angry but watched him secretly, and her anger began to fade despite her doubts about his cooking.

• Jiang Chen returned with ingredients, apologized to Xiao Ying, and promised to prepare a surprise for her.
• Xiao Ying stayed angry because Jiang Chen had insulted her two greatest sore spots, despite having considered forgiving him.
• Jiang Chen left Xiao Ying's room and began preparing ingredients in the kitchen.
• Unable to ignore the clanging, Xiao Ying peeked through her window and saw Jiang Chen cooking.
• Xiao Ying doubted his cooking and refused to expect anything, but watching him made her anger lessen.

Jiang Chen cooked a feast to apologize to Xiao Ying, using the food’s aroma to draw her out of her room. Xiao Ying accepted his apology provisionally and eagerly ate his cooking, though she kept up her icy expression.

• Xiao Ying smelled Jiang Chen’s pork rib soup while cultivating and watched him cook from her window.
• Jiang Chen prepared six dishes and brought them to the courtyard, noticing Xiao Ying peeking at the food.
• Jiang Chen invited Xiao Ying to eat and said he had cooked especially to apologize.
• Xiao Ying agreed to give him a chance, then sat down and eagerly tasted the dishes and soup.
• Xiao Ying found Jiang Chen’s cooking more delicious than food she had tasted in Heaven Dou City, while concealing her excitement when he sat across from her.

Jiang Chen served Xiao Ying a lavish meal, then teased her about eating papaya to improve her figure. After she finished the fruit and tea, he offered to start their acquaintance over.

• Xiao Ying ate all six dishes and the soup Jiang Chen had prepared.
• Jiang Chen gave Xiao Ying papaya and claimed it might help her develop like Xue'er.
• Xiao Ying finished the papaya, then drank the tea Jiang Chen offered.
• Jiang Chen introduced himself again and reached out to Xiao Ying to begin their acquaintance anew.

Jiang Chen and Xiao Ying made peace after their earlier disagreement, and Xiao Ying gave him a room in the residence. Jiang Chen persuaded her that he was older than her, leaving him pleased to finally be treated as a big brother.

• Jiang Chen explained that shaking hands was a custom from his hometown, and Xiao Ying accepted his handshake.
• Jiang Chen gave Xiao Ying healing pills for the bruising on her forehead as compensation.
• After realizing she had eaten all the food, Xiao Ying apologized, and Jiang Chen cleaned up the dishes.
• Xiao Ying prepared a room for Jiang Chen and told him it would be his to use.
• Jiang Chen claimed he was twenty and swore that he had only acknowledged Xue'er as his big sister because she used to bully him.
• Xiao Ying believed Jiang Chen but told him he would have to buy his own bedding.

Jiang Chen learned about Xiao Ying’s duties and guessed that she was attracted to Qian Renxue. He sent the Little Black Sparrow to watch Prince Xue Xing, whose reputation as a wastrel he intended to investigate.

• Jiang Chen asked Xiao Ying about her responsibilities, and she explained that she guarded and inspected a secret passage and relayed messages between Qian Renxue and the Temple.
• Xiao Ying asked about Jiang Chen’s role, and he said Qian Renxue had asked him to serve as her personal guard.
• After Jiang Chen said he and Qian Renxue had grown up together, Xiao Ying stood up and walked away in a huff.
• Jiang Chen guessed that Xiao Ying was attracted to Qian Renxue and decided that he had no reason to worry.
• Jiang Chen sent the Little Black Sparrow to Prince Xue Xing’s residence to watch him and investigate whether he was truly playing the fool.

Jiang Chen used Little Black Sparrow to locate Prince Xue Xing’s residence and followed him to the Fourth Prince’s residence. There, Xue Xing demanded to see Xue Beng, and Jiang Chen followed the servant sent to fetch him.

• Jiang Chen realized Little Black Sparrow was not enough to monitor Prince Xue Xing, Xue Beng, and the old emperor at the same time.
• Little Black Sparrow found Prince Xue Xing inside the imperial city and followed him as he left by sedan chair.
• Prince Xue Xing arrived at Xue Beng’s residence and ordered a servant to summon him.
• Jiang Chen followed the servant, eager to see what Xue Beng looked like.

Jiang Chen arrived at Xue Beng’s residence and discovered him abusing an innocent girl. Xue Beng headed to the main hall to face his imperial uncle, unaware of Jiang Chen’s killing intent.

• A servant went to Xue Beng’s room and heard him tormenting a woman while Jiang Chen flew to the open window.
• Jiang Chen saw Xue Beng abusing a young woman and felt killing intent toward him.
• The servant warned Xue Beng that the prince was waiting angrily in the main hall, but Xue Beng finished abusing the girl and threatened her to keep silent.
• Xue Beng let the wounded girl go, then ordered the servant to find more women and promised him scraps.
• Xue Beng hurried toward the main hall, fearing his imperial uncle more than his father or older brother.

Prince Xue Xing reprimanded Xue Beng for indulging in vice instead of preparing to become Crown Prince, then ordered him to study. Xue Beng agreed but remained determined to enjoy himself and claim the throne, while a black bird followed Xue Xing’s entourage.

• Xue Beng entered the hall, and Prince Xue Xing angrily confronted him after sending his servant away.
• Prince Xue Xing scolded Xue Beng for visiting brothels and abducting women instead of secretly developing his abilities.
• Xue Beng argued that he expected to become Crown Prince once Xue Xing proved Xue Qinghe had murdered his brothers.
• Prince Xue Xing threatened to stop cultivating Xue Beng, then gave him books on the sages and military strategy to study.
• Xue Beng picked up the books and vowed to keep seeking pleasure while waiting for his eldest brother to fall.
• A black bird watched Xue Xing leave and followed his entourage.

Jiang Chen recognized Salas, a Platinum Bishop, delivering a secret letter from Pope Palace to Xiao Ying. The letter remained unread and in Xiao Ying's possession.

• Jiang Chen considered killing Xue Beng but decided to discuss it with Qian Renxue first.
• Jiang Chen heard a hidden passage open and saw Salas emerge.
• Salas gave Xiao Ying a sealed secret letter from Pope Palace and left through the passage.
• Jiang Chen entered Xiao Ying's room without knocking and reached for the letter.
• Xiao Ying slapped Jiang Chen's hand away and secured the letter in her Soul Tool.

Jiang Chen tried to persuade Xiao Ying to let him read Qian Renxue’s letter by offering to cook her another meal, but she refused to betray her mistress. He returned to his room to review his new identity and later found Xiao Ying still cultivating.

• Jiang Chen offered to cook Xiao Ying another meal in exchange for letting him read Qian Renxue’s letter.
• Xiao Ying refused, saying the letter was for her miss and that she could not read it.
• Xiao Ying said she planned to deliver the letter to Qian Renxue that night unless the bishop declared it urgent.
• Jiang Chen returned to his room, reviewed the information Qian Renxue had given him, and slept for several hours.
• Jiang Chen got up and saw Xiao Ying continuing to cultivate, noting that she had reached the Soul Ancestor realm at seventeen.

Jiang Chen began preparing a boxed meal for Xiao Ying, while she mistook his cooking for a specialty of the Pope Palace. The chapter left them setting up a table and chairs as he continued cooking.

• Jiang Chen remembered an idea that could help Xiao Ying grow stronger and went to the kitchen to prepare her a boxed meal.
• Xiao Ying watched Jiang Chen cook and felt touched that he was making food for her despite her refusal to let him read the letter.
• Xiao Ying offered to help, and Jiang Chen gave her garlic to peel while she wondered if he worked as a cook at the Pope Palace.
• Jiang Chen took the unpeeled garlic from Xiao Ying and used Soul Power to remove all the skins at once.
• Jiang Chen took a table and chairs from his Soul Tool and told Xiao Ying to set them up.

Jiang Chen finished cooking lunch, then prepared a portion to take to Xue'er with Xiao Ying. Xiao Ying insisted on going first through the hidden passage, and they headed down together.

• Jiang Chen served the dishes, and Xiao Ying eagerly ate once he finished cooking.
• After dinner, Xiao Ying washed the dishes while night fell.
• Jiang Chen carried a lunch box of food to Xiao Ying's room and told her they were taking it to Xue'er.
• Xiao Ying pulled Jiang Chen back and insisted on entering the hidden passage first because she feared he would stare at her again.
• Xiao Ying walked down the passage ahead of Jiang Chen, and he followed before closing the entrance.

Jiang Chen and Xiao Ying walked through the underground passage while discussing her lonely past and his advice about papaya. The conversation grew awkward, and Xiao Ying ended by warning him not to take advantage of Qian Renxue.

• Jiang Chen climbed down into the passage with the lunch box and joined Xiao Ying.
• Jiang Chen learned that Xiao Ying's father had died, that she had never attended a Spirit Academy, and that she had no friends besides Qian Renxue.
• Xiao Ying asked whether Jiang Chen's papaya advice would work, and he told her to eat it regularly and massage herself daily.
• The two reached the area beneath Qian Renxue's room, where Xiao Ying warned Jiang Chen not to take advantage of Qian Renxue.

Jiang Chen followed Xiao Ying into Qian Renxue’s bedroom and waited outside the bathroom while she attended to Qian Renxue. He overheard their friendly exchange and felt jealous as they complimented each other.

• Jiang Chen followed Xiao Ying into Qian Renxue’s bedroom while Qian Renxue was bathing.
• Xiao Ying warned Jiang Chen not to peek at Qian Renxue and went into the bathroom to help her.
• Jiang Chen sat nearby and listened as Xiao Ying and Qian Renxue talked.
• Qian Renxue invited Xiao Ying into the bathroom, and Jiang Chen grew jealous when they complimented each other.

Jiang Chen waited for Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying, then presented Qian Renxue with a meal he had cooked for her. Qian Renxue noticed the heart-shaped garnish and was genuinely impressed by the dish’s flavor.

• Jiang Chen waited half an hour for Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying to emerge from inside.
• Qian Renxue sat with Jiang Chen while Xiao Ying brought over a stool and joined them.
• Qian Renxue asked about the lunchbox, and Jiang Chen said he had made the meal especially for her.
• Qian Renxue opened the lunchbox and saw a delicate heart arranged on the dish.
• Qian Renxue tasted the food and was surprised by how delicious it was.
• Xiao Ying eagerly asked Qian Renxue whether she liked the meal.

Jiang Chen shared the meal he had prepared for Qian Renxue with Xiao Ying, and Qian Renxue praised his cooking and asked him to make more. Jiang Chen boldly offered to cook for Qian Renxue for the rest of his life, then changed the subject by asking Xiao Ying about a letter from Bishop Salas.

• Qian Renxue invited Xiao Ying to eat with them, and Xiao Ying eagerly joined Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue.
• Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying ate all the dishes while Jiang Chen watched and wondered what Qian Renxue thought of the heart-shaped decoration.
• Qian Renxue praised Jiang Chen's cooking and asked him to cook for her again.
• Jiang Chen told Qian Renxue he could cook for her for the rest of his life, making her turn away in shock and Xiao Ying glare angrily.
• Jiang Chen asked Xiao Ying whether Bishop Salas had given her a letter to pass on to Xue'er.