Chapter Summaries

While recovering in the hospital, Fang Ran talked with Shui Lianxin about her life as a star, her gratitude for the freedom he had given her, and their hopes of studying abroad in beautiful cities. They shared stories about his recent journey to Oslo, where he worried he had damaged a church, leaving their friendship and a new future possibility warmly in view.

• Fang Ran asked Shui Lianxin about her celebrity schedule, and she described her relaxed routine of music practice, time with her grandmother, and caring for Chocolate.
• Shui Lianxin told Fang Ran that she was filming the Night Raven movie and thanked him for helping her freely explore the outside world.
• Fang Ran let Shui Lianxin hand him Chocolate, and she asked about his injuries and his distant journey; she said he seemed happy because he had done what he wanted.
• Shui Lianxin said she hoped to study abroad in a beautiful city, and she and Fang Ran named Athens, Paris, Venice, and Florence.
• Fang Ran told Shui Lianxin about Oslo and then worried that he had smashed through a church wall while fighting someone.

After a week of recovery in the Night Bureau hospital, Fang Ran had his bandages removed and learned he could return home soon. Ye Sheng returned from the Arctic and accidentally walked in on him changing, leaving Fang Ran mortified.

• Resurrection Jie removed Fang Ran’s bandages, treated his injuries, and reassured him that his scars would not remain.
• Fang Ran joked that Resurrection Jie was keeping him, and she teased him about liking older women before telling him he could go home the next day.
• Resurrection Jie met Ye Sheng in the Night Bureau lobby and learned she still could not contact Night Crow.
• Ye Sheng went to visit Fang Ran while thinking about her debt to Night Crow, forgot to knock, and saw Fang Ran changing his hospital clothes.
• Ye Sheng slammed the door shut, leaving Fang Ran horrified and lamenting his latest embarrassing incident.

Ye Sheng visited Fang Ran in the Hospital Room after an awkward interruption and asked about his trip to the Arctic. Fang Ran remembered the girl whose voices had called to him across time and told Ye Sheng that he had fulfilled his wish.

• Ye Sheng regretted barging into Fang Ran’s room and reflected on her recurring dreams of Night Raven and Fang Ran.
• Ye Sheng reentered after knocking, apologized, and asked Fang Ran how his injuries were healing.
• Fang Ran told Ye Sheng that he was recovering and would be able to go home the next day.
• Ye Sheng asked whether Fang Ran had encountered danger in the Arctic and fulfilled the wish that brought him there.
• Fang Ran recalled the girl separated from him by a hundred years and answered that he had fulfilled his wish.

Fang Ran and Ye Sheng talked in the Hospital Room, where Ye Sheng recalled how an important person from her youth had changed her life. She revealed that he was her first love, leaving Fang Ran stunned.

• Fang Ran worried that his reckless actions had caused Ye Sheng trouble, but she reassured him that helping a companion was natural.
• Fang Ran told Ye Sheng he had thought her strict because she seemed exceptionally capable and worked tirelessly.
• Ye Sheng recalled how family demands had made her strict with herself and others, leaving her isolated except for Lian Xin and Xiao Ling.
• Ye Sheng explained that someone she met as a student taught her to be gentle with others and helped change her Fate.
• Ye Sheng told Fang Ran that the person had been one of the most important people in her life and her first love.

Ye Sheng explained how she found Fang Ran in the Arctic and introduced the coming National War, admitting that she wanted the Night Bureau to win so fewer people would die. Fang Ran realized he envied her selfless resolve and promised she would have Night Raven’s help.

• Ye Sheng told Fang Ran that Night Raven had revealed their connection, while Mu Cheng and Yota’s clues helped her locate him in the Arctic.
• Ye Sheng explained that the National War was a contest among participants acting for their nations, designed to settle international conflicts without letting their powers disrupt ordinary society.
• Ye Sheng admitted that the Night Bureau was relatively weak but said she wanted to win the next National War to reduce deaths on distant battlefields.
• Fang Ran recognized that he envied Ye Sheng’s courage and dedication to protecting others, then told her the Night Bureau would win.
• Fang Ran assured Ye Sheng that Night Raven would help, and Ye Sheng began to question whether Night Raven would care about the National War.

After recovering from his injuries, Fang Ran visited Shui Linlang in her flower-sea courtyard and discussed how she had maneuvered events around his secret identity. Shui Linlang welcomed him back safely, while Fang Ran’s double continued fighting Spellcaster in the hospital.

• Fang Ran celebrated having his bandages removed, then fought Spellcaster, who had brought him another Lolita dress.
• Fang Ran watched his other self and Spellcaster tussle in the hospital through Shui Linlang’s Water Mirror.
• Shui Linlang praised Fang Ran’s ability to create a second version of himself, and Fang Ran accused her of guiding Li Ze and Ye Sheng toward discovering his identity.
• Shui Linlang admitted she had enjoyed seeing her juniors get into an interesting situation, leaving Fang Ran embarrassed about his past behavior toward Ye Sheng.
• Shui Linlang welcomed Fang Ran back safely after his severe injuries.

Fang Ran told Shui Linlang how his Arctic journey and meeting the Nevernight Palace Queen changed his resolve to grow stronger and protect Ling. After Fang Ran returned to Beijing with Su Qun, Shui Linlang saw that his key of Advance had lit up and considered the other keys still waiting to change.

• Fang Ran recounted his fears during the Arctic trek and described meeting the Nevernight Palace Queen in a scene from a hundred years earlier.
• Shui Linlang told Fang Ran that he had found his reason to move forward, and he admitted he wanted to become strong enough to protect Ling.
• Shui Linlang teased Fang Ran about liking Ling and tried to redirect his questions about the strange coincidences surrounding his awakening.
• Silver Severing Dragon Tooth's core cracked, and Fang Ran's consciousness returned to his body as Su Qun drove him back toward Beijing.
• Shui Linlang examined the star chart and saw Advance shine alongside Power while the other keys remained at different stages of change.

After Fang Ran returned to The Cabin from the hospital, he found Meng Lang gaming instead of a welcoming party and reunited with him through their usual scuffle. Meng Lang got Fang Ran to try the PS4, and four hours later Fang Ran was still playing King of Fighters, determined to win a round.

• Fang Ran returned to The Cabin after recovering in the hospital and found Meng Lang playing PS4 alone.
• Fang Ran wrestled Meng Lang and shoved his popsicle into his mouth while Gou Yu watched and welcomed Fang Ran back.
• Fang Ran learned Meng Lang had forgotten to arrange a welcome because he had been gaming, though Meng Lang said he had bought the PS4 for Fang Ran to use during recovery.
• Meng Lang handed Fang Ran a controller, and Fang Ran insisted he was not interested in console games.
• Four hours later, Fang Ran was still challenging Meng Lang to another round of King of Fighters while Meng Lang waited for a chance to leave.

Fang Ran was sent out to buy groceries after losing at fighting games, but Gou Yu also directed him to pick up Xia Jie from dance practice. At the dance studio, Fang Ran spotted Xia Jie practicing in black dancewear.

• Fang Ran lost more than thirty King of Fighters matches to Meng Lang before Gou Yu took away his controller.
• Gou Yu offered to play Fang Ran once in exchange for him buying groceries, then sent him toward the club building to pick up Xia Jie.
• Fang Ran walked across Jing City University, reflecting on how distant campus life now felt after his experiences in Oslo and the Ice Sea.
• Fang Ran found honey water, a towel, a shopping list, and cash in the bag Gou Yu had packed for him.
• A girl led Fang Ran to the dance studio, where he saw Xia Jie practicing in black dancewear.

After leaving the hospital, Fang Ran visited Xia Yao at dance practice and was surprised to learn that others thought she had a boyfriend. Xia Yao greeted him warmly and decided to go grocery shopping with him, while Gou Yu and Meng Lang revealed they had engineered the meeting.

• Fang Ran learned from a dance-club member that Xia Yao was admired by many people and was rumored to have a boyfriend.
• Xia Yao spotted Fang Ran outside the studio, hugged him, and asked whether his injuries had healed enough for him to leave the hospital.
• Fang Ran gave Xia Yao honey water and a towel, and she agreed to accompany him to buy groceries before leaving her hair tie on his wrist.
• Gou Yu told Meng Lang that he had nudged Fang Ran into picking Xia Yao up, while Meng Lang teased that Fang Ran would not understand the romantic implications.

Fang Ran and Xia Yao bought ingredients for a welcome-home barbecue and walked back to Jing City University, where they talked about her life and his recovery. As Xia Yao considered inviting him on a holiday trip, Fang Ran suddenly asked whether she remembered the cards.

• Fang Ran and Xia Yao bought a large load of barbecue ingredients, and Fang Ran realized Gou Yu had sent him out as rehabilitation.
• Fang Ran carried the heavy groceries easily while he and Xia Yao walked back to campus and discussed her joining the Dance Club.
• Xia Yao explained that she had invented a boyfriend to deter people who kept pursuing her, and Fang Ran expressed relief that she was happy at Jing City University.
• Xia Yao considered inviting Fang Ran on a holiday trip to the seaside, but Fang Ran suddenly asked whether she remembered the cards.

Fang Ran confirmed that Xia Yao did not remember the past, then explained that he wanted to repay and protect those who had changed his life. After a welcome dinner, Xia Yao broke down in Ming Ling’s arms, admitting that Fang Ran’s growth made him feel farther away and that she had fallen for him.

• Fang Ran asked Xia Yao about squares, and the Libra Card confirmed she did not remember the past.
• Fang Ran left shaved ice for Old Man Chen and told Xia Yao he wanted to repay those who had helped him and take responsibility.
• Fang Ran and Meng Lang bickered through the welcome dinner at the Cabin while Gou Yu, Fang Xiaoran, Ming Ling, and Xia Yao joined them.
• Ming Ling brought Xia Yao back to her apartment, where she comforted her after realizing Xia Yao had been hiding her distress.
• Xia Yao cried that Fang Ran seemed to be growing farther away from her and admitted to Ming Ling that she had fallen for Junior.

Xia Yao reassured Ming Ling that she had accepted her feelings for her junior, Fang Ran, and the two returned to his home. They found Fang Ran tied inside a quilt to a balcony bar, where Gou Yu explained that the head of the household had punished him for running away.

• Ming Ling woke to find Xia Yao calm and making breakfast, despite having cried the night before.
• Xia Yao told Ming Ling that she had figured things out and had fallen for her junior, while Ming Ling tried to set her up with a rich man.
• Xia Yao praised Fang Ran’s serious side and asked Ming Ling not to act strangely around him and the others.
• Xia Yao and Ming Ling entered the house and found Fang Ran wrapped in a quilt and tied to a balcony bar.
• Gou Yu and Meng Lang explained that the head of the household had returned and punished Fang Ran for running away.

After Xia Yao left, Fang Ran’s teammates questioned him about his disappearance and his trip to the Arctic. Fang Ran described the overwhelming battle between Ling and Nevernight Palace’s Zero Riders, leaving Meng Lang and Gou Yu stunned by the scale of the weapons involved.

• Fang Ran and Meng Lang lay overstuffed after a seafood barbecue, and Meng Lang discovered that Fang Ran had tricked him with San Mai Ling Mu Pills disguised as digestive tablets.
• Meng Lang and Gou Yu asked Fang Ran why he had left and what he had done while he was gone.
• Fang Ran explained that a Covenant Executive Officer had warned him the Queen was in danger, so he traveled through Norway and boarded an icebreaker toward the Arctic.
• Fang Ran said he had gone hoping to intercept Nevernight Palace’s Zero Riders, but found no Night Battle information in the real world and took a pointless detour.
• Meng Lang asked how Fang Ran had fought A-rank opponents without the Queen’s help, but Fang Ran avoided explaining his power.
• Fang Ran described the Arctic battle’s immense weapons and destructive scale, leaving Meng Lang and Gou Yu speechless.

Fang Ran told Meng Lang and Gou Yu what he had learned about the Arctic operation and the Nevernight Palace Queen’s real intentions, then affirmed Ling’s freedom to choose where she went. Ling returned just as Fang Ran joked about her, and chased him into the kitchen.

• Fang Ran told Meng Lang and Gou Yu that he had encountered the young Queen in a scenario set in Italy a hundred years in the past.
• Fang Ran explained that the Queen had used the Arctic operation to hide Ling’s weakened state and would likely have freed her if Nevernight Palace had captured her.
• Fang Ran said Ling should be free to choose where she went, then joked that the Queen was a sulking, troublesome runaway.
• Fang Ran tried to show Meng Lang pictures of the Queen as a child, but noticed Ling standing on the balcony.
• Fang Ran tried to escape into the kitchen, and Ling used telekinesis to drag him back.

Ling returned to The Cabin with her strength restored and caught Fang Ran trying to hide his phone, then punished him for secretly taking photos and badmouthing her. After Trinity teased them and left, Ling hung Fang Ran from the balcony bar and demanded that he explain his unusual strength, his heart, and the Demoness.

• Ling used telekinesis to drag Fang Ran out of the kitchen while Meng Lang and Gou Yu watched.
• Ling took Fang Ran’s Nokia from the Black Box and crushed it after discovering he had secretly taken photos of her.
• Meng Lang and Gou Yu left Fang Ran to face Ling alone, and Ling bundled him in a blanket and silenced the room.
• Trinity appeared, teased Ling and Fang Ran, whispered advice to Fang Ran, then vanished after pressing his head to her chest.
• Ling hung Fang Ran from the balcony bar and demanded that he explain his strength, his heart, and the Demoness.

After Fang Ran confessed what happened in the Team Scenario, Ling learned that he had made a deal with the Doll Demoness and gained the extraordinary power Infinity. Ling examined his weapon and wondered how the Covenant had learned about the Demoness’s power, leaving their larger plan unclear.

• Fang Ran confessed the events of the Team Scenario to Ling while she kept him tied up and suspended from a crossbar.
• Ling scolded Fang Ran for ignoring her warning and interfering in the Scenario, then asked to see his Magic Wand.
• Ling examined Silver Severing Dragon Tooth and learned that Fang Ran’s extraordinary power was called Infinity, a phenomenon absent from the Night Web records she knew.
• Ling explained that the Covenant’s Eighth Pillar, the Plunderer, had sought to steal the Undead Demoness’s extraordinary power, Undeath.
• Ling questioned how the Covenant had learned about the Demoness’s power, since even she had never known it existed.

Ling warned Fang Ran to stay away from the Covenant and learned that he was surviving with a heart created by his ability, a dangerous condition he had concealed. They discussed the strange coincidences surrounding his rise and the chapter ended with Ling revealing that Shui Linlang’s teacher was the immortal of Huaxia Midnight.

• Ling told Fang Ran that the Covenant had been involved in attacks on Night Pearl and the Night Bureau, then forbade him from getting involved with them again.
• Fang Ran explained that The Create could materialize objects and that he had created the heart sustaining him with magic energy.
• Ling warned that nullifying Fang Ran’s ability could kill him, promised to find a way to remove the danger, and ordered him to keep his condition secret.
• Ling questioned whether Fang Ran had disclosed everything about the Scenario, then pointed out how unlikely the coincidences surrounding his powers and encounters were.
• Fang Ran admitted that he had also noticed the coincidences, including entering a Scenario in the Arctic Ocean when he expected it to be impossible.
• Ling said Shui Linlang was an Oracle and revealed that her teacher was the immortal of Huaxia Midnight.

Ling explained the Night Society’s mysterious history and warned Fang Ran that he could avoid the dangers of Night Battles, but he insisted on getting stronger so he could protect those around him and help her. After Ling accidentally learned what Trinity had told him, she knocked him unconscious, and a new Wave Card awakened.

• Ling told Fang Ran that Huaxia’s ancient history might conceal relics of power and that the Night Society predated the current Night Battle order.
• Ling said Fang Ran did not need to investigate the prophecy and warned him that Night Battles could cost him everything he valued.
• Fang Ran said he wanted to grow stronger to protect those around him and help Ling, but she dismissed his offer and told him to prepare for tomorrow.
• Ling lowered Fang Ran from the railing and asked what Trinity had said; Fang Ran repeated Trinity’s advice to take advantage of Ling’s condition.
• Embarrassed and furious, Ling tied Fang Ran up again, struck him unconscious, and triggered the awakening of his Wave Card.

Ling returned to Fang Ran’s room after recovering memories of their journey together a century earlier. She curled up in his arms, finally able to face her feelings and tell him she had wanted him to hold her.

• Ling welcomed herself to Huaxia after returning to her true body.
• Ling flew to Fang Ran’s room and found him unconscious, then laid him on the bed.
• Ling recalled how Fang Ran had protected her and brought warmth and adventure into her lonely past.
• Ling restored memories of their shared journey by looking through photos on her interface.
• Ling climbed into Fang Ran’s embrace, cried, and called him a liar and an idiot for not holding her.