Chapter Summaries

After Xue Xing’s guards subdued Xue Beng, Dugu Bo moved Dugu Yan out of the residence and considered leaving for Spirit City. Qian Renxue, Jiang Chen, and Xiao Ying discussed the danger posed by Dugu Bo and Xue Xing and began considering how to kill them without raising suspicion.

• Xue Xing’s two guards subdued Xue Beng, threw him into the stables, and locked him up.
• Dugu Bo brought Dugu Yan home, and she cleaned herself up and changed a pad before returning from her room looking better.
• Dugu Bo told Dugu Yan to pack so they could move to his courtyard in the outer city, and he considered going to Spirit City.
• Jiang Chen told Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying that Xue Beng might become impotent after being locked in the stables.
• Qian Renxue concluded that Dugu Bo and Xue Xing had severed ties and said they needed to kill the two without arousing suspicion.

Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue considered using Xue Beng’s scandal to weaken Xue Xing, then Jiang Chen took Qian Renxue shopping in Heaven Dou City. They left Xiao Ying to keep watch and set out to enjoy the city, where Jiang Chen bought Qian Renxue whatever she liked.

• Jiang Chen suggested spreading news of Xue Beng’s scandal to undermine Xue Xing and remove his protection from Xue Beng.
• Qian Renxue agreed to watch Xue Xing and Xue Beng and find out who else knew about the incident.
• Jiang Chen proposed taking Qian Renxue shopping and arranged for Little Black Sparrow to alert him if the emperor came looking for her.
• Jiang Chen led Qian Renxue through a passageway, while Xiao Ying followed and closed the entrance.
• Jiang Chen bought the things Qian Renxue liked as the two young women attracted attention in Heaven Dou City.

Jiang Chen took Qian Renxue shopping, and she began to recognize how much happiness he brought her. He led her and Xiao Ying to a secluded courtyard, where they heard Xue Beng’s ongoing ordeal in the stable.

• Jiang Chen drove away men who harassed the group as Qian Renxue enjoyed her first carefree shopping trip.
• Qian Renxue repeatedly stole glances at Jiang Chen and began to fall for him.
• Jiang Chen took Qian Renxue’s hand and ran with her toward a quiet residential district, leaving Xiao Ying to chase after them.
• Jiang Chen stopped outside a courtyard and told Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying to listen to the loud horse neighs coming from inside.
• Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying realized Xue Beng was still in the stable, and Jiang Chen suggested sneaking in to look.

Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue watched Xue Beng suffer the effects of the medicine, then went to the market and cooked dinner together. Qian Renxue enjoyed the ordinary experience but slapped Jiang Chen when he tried to put an arm around her.

• Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue said Xue Beng might die from taking three pills and leave Xue Xing burdened with guilt.
• Jiang Chen invited Qian Renxue to stay for dinner, and she agreed before returning to the palace.
• Jiang Chen taught Xiao Ying how to buy vegetables at the market.
• Jiang Chen guided Qian Renxue as she cooked, then tried to wrap an arm around her waist.
• Qian Renxue slapped Jiang Chen and ordered him aside while Xiao Ying tended the fire.

Qian Renxue and Jiang Chen learned that Xue Beng was still in danger and hurried to the temple to ask Salas for help. The chapter ended as Jiang Chen brought Qian Renxue to the temple, hoping to save the guards who could expose Xue Xing.

• Qian Renxue asked Jiang Chen about Xue Beng, and Jiang Chen said the prince was still trapped in an exhausting ordeal.
• Qian Renxue realized Xue Xing might silence the guards who knew what had happened and decided to ask Salas to send experts to protect them.
• Jiang Chen left with Qian Renxue, using Three Thousand Lightning Movements to carry her at high speed toward the temple.
• Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue reached the temple after a few minutes.

Qian Renxue and Jiang Chen informed Salas that Xue Xing suspected her of murdering the princes and ordered him to prepare a rescue at Xue Xing's residence. Salas dispatched two concealed Soul Douluo to wait there, while Xue Beng remained alive after collapsing.

• Qian Renxue and Jiang Chen entered Salas's office through the hidden passage, and Jiang Chen identified himself as the new Holy Son.
• Qian Renxue told Salas to send two concealment experts to Xue Xing's residence and rescue the guards if Xue Beng died.
• Jiang Chen reported that Xue Beng and the mares had collapsed but were still alive.
• Qian Renxue considered how Xue Xing's actions could expose the scandal and ruin his position, even if Xue Beng survived.
• Salas returned and confirmed that two Soul Douluo skilled in concealment were waiting at Xue Xing's residence.

Jiang Chen, Qian Renxue, and Salas prepared to act against Xue Xing after confirming that he had returned to his residence. Jiang Chen agreed to monitor the situation in real time, and the chapter ended as Xue Xing entered the residence.

• Qian Renxue praised Salas for taking charge and instructed him to credit Jiang Chen for uncovering Xue Xing and Xue Beng's secret and planning the operation.
• Salas flattered Jiang Chen and inferred from his promise to stay by Qian Renxue's side that the two had an unusual relationship.
• Jiang Chen told Qian Renxue that Xue Xing had returned and that Spirit Hall's experts were concealed nearby.
• Salas asked how Jiang Chen knew what was happening, and Jiang Chen kept his method secret.
• Qian Renxue asked Jiang Chen to begin monitoring the situation as Xue Xing entered his residence.

Xue Xing discovered that Xue Beng had remained locked in the stable and was close to death, while the four horses were also badly weakened. He ordered Xue Beng taken back for treatment and killed the groom.

• The groom reported that Xue Beng had fainted in the stable and the four horses were extremely weak.
• Xue Xing went to the stable and found Xue Beng lying naked on the ground, barely breathing, with blood on his legs.
• Xue Xing ordered the guards to carry Xue Beng back to the residence for treatment.
• Xue Xing struck the groom and killed him, then ordered the body cleaned up later.

Xue Xing arranged for healing Soul Masters to save Xue Beng after his collapse from excessive indulgence. When he learned that two guards had been rescued by masked strangers, he ordered a search and wondered who they were.

• Healing Soul Masters treated Xue Beng and said he needed tonics to recover his strength.
• Xue Xing rewarded the healers after they saved Xue Beng.
• The captain of the guards reported that two mysterious, masked people had rescued the two guards.
• Xue Xing kicked the captain and ordered him to search all of Heaven Dou City for the rescuers.
• Xue Xing wondered who had intervened to save the guards.

Xue Xing feared that an unseen enemy had infiltrated his estate and arranged for Xue Beng’s care and protection. Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue discussed the rescued guards as Salas went to secure them, while Xue Beng remained dangerously weak.

• Xue Xing ordered his guards to clean up the corpses, care for Xue Beng, and keep suspicious people away.
• Xue Xing summoned the estate physician to examine Xue Beng, then ordered guards to protect his bedroom.
• Jiang Chen told Salas that someone had rescued the two guards, and Salas left to deal with them.
• Jiang Chen warned Salas not to let the guards learn their identities, and Qian Renxue said Salas could be trusted.
• Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue discussed whether Xue Beng would survive and agreed they could try again if their plan failed.

Qian Renxue left Jiang Chen to watch over Xue Beng and returned to the palace, while Jiang Chen stayed at Xiao Ying’s courtyard. The chapter ended with Jiang Chen asking Xiao Ying whether she had been practicing the method he taught her.

• Salas returned, and Qian Renxue gave him further instructions before leaving with Jiang Chen.
• Qian Renxue told Jiang Chen to monitor Xue Beng, then prepared to return to the palace and left Xiao Ying to keep an eye on him.
• Jiang Chen teased Qian Renxue about washing her intimate clothes, but she and Xiao Ying rebuked him.
• After Qian Renxue left, Xiao Ying washed her clothes while Jiang Chen cultivated on the roof and told Xiao Ying his martial soul was a zombie.
• Jiang Chen asked Xiao Ying whether she had been trying the method he had taught her every night.

Jiang Chen kept watch on Xue Beng and decided to abandon waiting for him to die, resolving to find another way to deal with Xue Xing and his nephew. He left to meet Dugu Yan, who entered a room at an inn in the outer city.

• Xiao Ying realized Jiang Chen had heard her and hurried back to her room after hanging up Qian Renxue's clothes.
• Jiang Chen watched Xue Beng's guarded room through Sharp-tailed Swift and recruited another bird, assigning the three birds the numbers One, Two, and Three.
• By morning, Jiang Chen saw through Number Two that Xue Beng's aura had grown stronger and concluded he was unlikely to die on his own.
• Jiang Chen decided to find another way to deal with Xue Beng and Xue Xing, then left to meet Dugu Yan.
• Dugu Yan entered a room at an inn in the outer city and shut the door.

Jiang Chen agreed to meet Dugu Bo at the temple and prepared for the meeting with a Titled Douluo nearby as protection. The temple elder arrived just as Dugu Bo was expected, leaving Jiang Chen ready to discuss matters with him.

• Dugu Yan told Jiang Chen that her grandfather had cut ties with Xue Xing and asked him to persuade Dugu Bo to let her stay in Heaven Dou City.
• Jiang Chen told Dugu Yan to bring Dugu Bo to the temple so they could talk.
• Jiang Chen went through the secret passage to Salas's office and told him that Dugu Bo would be coming.
• Salas arranged for the Titled Douluo stationed at the temple to join them.
• The elderly temple elder arrived and greeted Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen met Ninth Elder and Dugu Bo, who had agreed to serve Spirit Hall but worried about leaving Dugu Yan behind in Heaven Dou City. Jiang Chen offered to let Dugu Yan live in the temple under Spirit Hall’s protection, and Dugu Bo accepted.

• Jiang Chen greeted Ninth Elder courteously, and the elder invited him to use the familiar name Little Chen.
• Salas brought Dugu Bo to meet Jiang Chen, while Ninth Elder remained wary of the newly pledged ally.
• Dugu Bo explained that he was leaving for Spirit City but feared leaving Dugu Yan alone after the incident with Xue Beng.
• Jiang Chen offered to have Dugu Yan move into the temple, promising Spirit Hall would protect her.
• Dugu Bo agreed to leave Dugu Yan in Jiang Chen’s care.

Jiang Chen reassured Dugu Bo before returning to the palace, where Xue Beng was found covered in alarming red blotches. The guards feared the illness might be contagious as their captain rushed to report it to the prince, while Jiang Chen hurried over to see what was happening.

• Dugu Bo accepted Jiang Chen's assurance and left after hoping Yan Yan would end up with him.
• Jiang Chen returned to the courtyard and found Xiao Ying had prepared lunch for him.
• Jiang Chen and Xiao Ying headed to the imperial palace after eating.
• Two maids discovered red blotches covering Xue Beng's body and screamed.
• The guard captain ordered everyone to stay back and ran to report the discovery to the prince.
• Jiang Chen heard about the commotion and hurried toward Xue Beng's room.

Xue Beng developed a severe disease, and Xue Xing summoned a healing Soul Master to examine him. The old healer inspected Xue Beng but had not yet given his diagnosis.

• Jiang Chen told Qian Renxue that Xue Beng appeared to have contracted a venereal disease, and he explained the term “incubation period” to Xiao Ying.
• Xue Xing rushed to Xue Beng’s room and found red spots covering his skin and his organ rotting.
• Xue Xing vomited outside the room, then ordered the captain of the guards to find the best healing Soul Master in Heaven Dou City.
• The captain returned with an elderly healer, who examined Xue Beng and stood up with a grave expression.

Xue Xing summoned a healing Soul Master to treat Xue Beng, whose love disease had reached a middle-to-late stage. After Xue Beng woke and remembered being left in the stable, Xue Xing confined the healer to the prince's residence until the treatment was complete.

• Xue Xing learned that Xue Beng's disease was difficult to cure and could take up to three days to treat.
• The old man revealed his healing Martial Soul and began treating Xue Beng with his soul skills.
• Xue Beng woke and screamed about being thrown into the stable, cursing Xue Xing.
• Xue Xing sent the old man away, then ordered him to continue treating Xue Beng without leaving the room for three days.
• The old man returned to the room, bitterly fearing that the assignment would cost him his life.

Jiang Chen revealed the Snow Swan Kiss, an immortal herb that could amplify viruses and poisons, and considered using it against Xue Xing. He left the exact plan unstated while explaining why the herb was dangerous and criticizing Tang San’s use of it to destroy Slaughter City.

• Jiang Chen said Xue Xing had likely covered up Xue Beng’s illness and doubted it could easily be used to harm him.
• Qian Renxue asked whether they could use the matter against Xue Xing at his birthday, and Jiang Chen announced he had an idea.
• Jiang Chen made Qian Renxue and Xiao Ying seal the air with Soul Power before he took out the Snow Swan Kiss.
• Jiang Chen explained that the Snow Swan Kiss could multiply nearby viruses and amplify poisons without limit.
• Jiang Chen recalled Tang San using the herb to destroy Slaughter City and condemned him for taking its benefits before eliminating it.

Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue refined a plan to use the Snow Swan Kiss against Xue Beng at his birthday banquet and expose Xue Xing. Jiang Chen arranged to enter the palace as Qian Renxue’s personal guard so he could be there, while Xiao Ying was left behind.

• Jiang Chen put the Snow Swan Kiss away after explaining its effects, and Qian Renxue recognized his plan to make Xue Beng contract a venereal disease.
• Qian Renxue proposed using Xue Beng’s birthday-banquet episode to make him reveal the truth publicly and implicate Xue Xing.
• Jiang Chen showed Qian Renxue that the dead Little Black Sparrow was unaffected by the Snow Swan Kiss, and the three refined three plans.
• Jiang Chen asked to attend the banquet, so Qian Renxue arranged for the captain of the guards to meet him at the imperial city gate in two hours.
• Xiao Ying asked to go too, but Jiang Chen and Qian Renxue refused because her identity made it impossible.

Jiang Chen entered the Imperial City under the identity of Chen Jiang and joined the Crown Prince’s guard as Number Nine. Zhao Hu revealed that Qian Renxue had given him special authority within the prince’s residence, leaving Zhao Hu wondering who he really was.

• Jiang Chen disguised himself with the mask Qian Renxue had given him and waited at the Imperial City gate.
• Zhao Hu met Jiang Chen, who greeted him as his uncle and embraced him to maintain his cover.
• Zhao Hu brought Jiang Chen through the gate and explained that he would serve as Guard Number Nine, protecting the Crown Prince’s residence.
• Zhao Hu said Jiang Chen could enter and leave the prince’s courtyard freely and held authority second only to His Highness in private.
• Zhao Hu asked Jiang Chen to reveal his true identity, suspecting he was an important Spirit Hall figure.