Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Fierce Battle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Kunlun confronts Ma Bianlang in Qingya Village’s ancestral hall for the long-awaited Gu battle.
• Ma Bianlang reveals the village’s hidden Super Divine Gu, the Nine-Colored Divine Gu, also called the Eight-Handed Monster. It is a terrifying child-shaped spirit with eight arms, hollow eyes, toad-like skin, multicolored clothing, and poisonous abilities.
• Xiao realizes the monster may have spied on him outside his window the previous night and recognizes its resemblance to an Eight-Handed stone idol in Qingya Village.
• Xiao places his Three-Corpse Snake Gu on the table and stakes his life, the Earth Egg, and his other Gu. In return, he demands that Ma Bianlang release Ma Erlei, Xiao Yudao, and Guo Ni if he wins.
• At Ma Shi’s urging, Ma Bianlang swears an oath to Great Emperor Chiyou that he will not harm Xiao’s companions if defeated.
• Ma Bianlang explains the brutal rules: each fighter places a hand into the opponent’s Gu jar, and both must endure their Gu attacking them. Whoever calls for the battle to stop first loses.
• The battle begins. Xiao inserts his hand into the jar containing the Nine-Colored Divine Gu, while Ma Bianlang places his hand into the Three-Corpse Snake Gu’s jar.
• Xiao immediately suffers overwhelming pain, paralysis, poisoning, and physical deterioration. His vision darkens, his strength drains, and his left hand begins swelling and changing color.
• Meanwhile, the Eight-Handed Monster’s shrieks attack Xiao’s mind and willpower. Ma Bianlang confidently predicts that Xiao will not last even a minute.
• Xiao refuses to give in. He orders the Three-Corpse Snake Gu to attack Ma Bianlang relentlessly while sparing his life, accepting that he may have to endure the Nine-Colored Divine Gu until death.
• Despite black blood flowing from his mouth, Xiao draws strength from his unfinished revenge for Luo Benjie’s destruction of the Gu God Temple and the unresolved mystery of his master’s death. He defiantly declares that although the Nine-Colored Divine Gu is “one in ten thousand,” he himself is a child “not found in ten thousand.”

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: Demonstrates courage, endurance, and self-sacrifice. Rather than prioritize his own survival, he focuses on winning freedom for Ma Erlei, Xiao Yudao, and Guo Ni. His determination is fueled by loyalty, revenge, and devotion to his deceased master.
• Ma Bianlang: Becomes increasingly arrogant and cruel. He treats the battle as an inevitable victory and delights in Xiao’s suffering, trusting completely in the power of the Nine-Colored Divine Gu.
• Guo Ni: Shows guilt and concern, admitting that she may have caused Xiao’s danger. Her fear emphasizes how lethal the Nine-Colored Divine Gu is.
• Ma Shi: Acts as a formal mediator, recognizing the legitimacy of Xiao’s stakes and advising Ma Bianlang to honor the rules of the Gu battle.
• Ma Erlei and Xiao Yudao: Though largely offstage, their safety motivates Xiao’s strategy and raises the emotional stakes of the contest.

Significant Themes

• Courage and endurance: The battle is as much a test of willpower as of Gu strength. Xiao’s survival depends on refusing to surrender despite unbearable pain.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: Xiao willingly risks death to secure a future for his companions, placing their freedom above his own life.
• The corrupting nature of Gu cultivation: The use of childlike spirits, corpses, poisonous insects, and resentful dead Gu highlights the grotesque and morally sinister nature of the practice.
• Arrogance versus determination: Ma Bianlang’s confidence in the Nine-Colored Divine Gu contrasts with Xiao’s refusal to accept that overwhelming power guarantees victory.
• Revenge and unfinished duty: Xiao’s desire to avenge the destruction of the Gu God Temple and uncover the truth behind his master’s death strengthens his resolve.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao taunts Ma Bianlang about using the Eight-Handed Monster to spy on him.
• Ma Bianlang boasts about the Nine-Colored Divine Gu and attempts to intimidate Xiao with its reputation.
• Xiao negotiates the release of his companions, forcing Ma Bianlang to make a poisonous oath.
• Guo Ni expresses regret and fear, while Xiao responds with humor to reassure or deflect her concern.
• During the battle, Ma Bianlang verbally torments Xiao, while Xiao silently commands the Three-Corpse Snake Gu to defeat Ma Bianlang without killing him.
• The Eight-Handed Monster becomes an active psychological weapon, shrieking at Xiao and weakening his mental defenses.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Kunlun is poisoned by Ma Bianlang's Nine-Colored Snake Gu and attacked by his Eight-Handed Monster Gu Spirit.
• Kunlun withstands the poison and defeats Ma Bianlang's Gu insects, including the Nine-Colored Snake Gu and the Eight-Handed Monster.
• Ma Huoxin arrives with a walking corpse and a jar containing an "ordinary" Gu insect, which he claims to be the Golden Silkworm Gu.
• Ma Shi, the clan chief of Qingya Village, agrees to let Kunlun and Guo Ni go, but vows revenge in three years.

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: Demonstrates remarkable resistance to poison and strength in defeating Ma Bianlang's powerful Gu insects.
• Ma Bianlang: Suffers a severe defeat and is injured by his own Nine-Colored Snake Gu.
• Ma Shi: Shows his ruthless and vengeful nature, vowing to attack Camellia Village in three years.
• Ma Huoxin: Displays strategic thinking and intimidation tactics, using the Golden Silkworm Gu's reputation to pressure Ma Shi.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Gu insects.
• The importance of reputation and intimidation in maintaining peace and avoiding conflict.
• The consequences of breaking taboos and rules within Miao culture.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Kunlun vs. Ma Bianlang: A fierce battle between their Gu insects, with Kunlun emerging victorious.
• Ma Huoxin vs. Ma Shi: A tense standoff, with Ma Huoxin using the Golden Silkworm Gu's reputation to pressure Ma Shi into submission.
• Guo Ni: Shows concern for Kunlun's safety and is relieved when he defeats Ma Bianlang.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Lou defeats Qingya Village's Nine-Colored Divine Gu using the Innate Insect.
• Ma Shi, the clan chief of Qingya Village, lets Xiao Lou go after losing the Gu duel.
• Xiao Lou, Ma Huoxin, and their group leave Qingya Village, with Guo Ni and Chen Junfeng following them.
• They discuss the Great Gu Masters of Camellia and Qingya Villages, Ma Xiaolou and Ma Chunyu, and their possible connection to the Earth Egg and Wu Daochao.
• They spend the night in a cave to avoid the cold and frostbite.

Character Developments

• Xiao Lou's Gu-raising skills and courage grow as he defeats the Nine-Colored Divine Gu.
• Ma Huoxin demonstrates his strategic thinking and calm demeanor by using an empty jar to bluff Ma Shi.
• Guo Ni shows understanding and acceptance of her situation, agreeing to leave Qingya Village with Chen Junfeng.
• Chen Junfeng displays remorse and concern for Guo Ni's well-being, offering her the freedom to choose her own marriage.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and rivalries between villages and their Great Gu Masters.
• The importance of strategic thinking and deception in Gu-raising and life.
• The consequences of actions and the need to take responsibility, as seen in Guo Ni and Chen Junfeng's relationship.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Lou and Ma Huoxin form a stronger bond as they work together to leave Qingya Village.
• Guo Ni and Chen Junfeng have a heart-to-heart conversation, leading to Guo Ni agreeing to leave with him.
• Xiao Lou, Ma Huoxin, and their group discuss their shared experiences and theories about the Great Gu Masters and Wu Daochao.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Kunlun notices that his hands have again changed color and hears a strange chirping sound, suspecting the Nine-Colored Divine Gu may have reactivated poison left in his body.
• He secretly leaves the cave, accompanied by Ma Huoxin’s Walking Corpse, and discovers the Eight-Handed Gu Spirit with the Nine-Colored Divine Gu resting on its head.
• The Nine-Colored Divine Gu communicates through the Eight-Handed Gu Spirit, asking about Ma Chunyu’s whereabouts. Xiao explains that Ma Chunyu died in Chiyou Valley and that his soul may now be held by Wu Daochao, whose location is unknown.
• In return, the Nine-Colored Divine Gu removes the residual poison from Xiao’s hands, restoring their normal color.
• Xiao and Eight-Handed form a tentative bond based on mutual hostility toward those who control or condemn them. Xiao reflects on how both he and the Gu Spirits are viewed as evil beings.
• Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the Golden Silkworm Deity, who attempts to recruit Eight-Handed into his plan to overthrow human Gu masters.
• Eight-Handed rejects him. The Golden Silkworm Deity attacks using a mysterious black umbrella capable of restraining Gu Spirits and defeats Eight-Handed temporarily.
• Xiao intervenes, allowing Eight-Handed to escape into the woods.
• The Golden Silkworm Deity reveals his ambition to collect the Gu Spirits of the Great Gu Masters from the thirteen dong of the Miao Borderlands and become the greatest evil god in the region. Xiao vows to stop him.

2. Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: Shows courage, compassion, and increasing empathy toward Gu Spirits. He openly acknowledges his own reputation as an “evil spirit” and recognizes the contradiction between defending humanity and understanding the Gu Spirits’ desire for freedom. He also becomes a trusted intermediary between the Nine-Colored Divine Gu and the outside world.
• Eight-Handed Gu Spirit: Demonstrates intelligence, loyalty, and emotional depth. Its search for information about Ma Chunyu suggests lingering attachment or a desire for justice. It refuses the Golden Silkworm Deity’s offer of “freedom” because it does not trust him, and its resentment toward him intensifies.
• Nine-Colored Divine Gu: Acts with restraint and apparent gratitude. It spares Xiao, communicates through Eight-Handed, and removes the poison from Xiao’s body, suggesting that it regards him as an ally rather than an enemy.
• Golden Silkworm Deity: Becomes more openly threatening and ambitious. He presents himself as a liberator of Gu Spirits but uses coercion and violence when Eight-Handed refuses him. His confidence grows from his possession of the black umbrella and his belief that Ma Xiaolou will not be able to stop him.
• Ma Chunyu and Ma Xiaolou: Though absent, both remain important. Ma Chunyu’s death motivates Eight-Handed’s actions, while Ma Xiaolou’s possible return represents hope for defeating the Golden Silkworm Deity.

3. Significant Themes

• Freedom versus control: The Golden Silkworm Deity challenges the traditional hierarchy in which Gu masters command and enslave Gu Spirits. The chapter explores whether conscious Gu Spirits have the right to rebel.
• Moral ambiguity: Xiao recognizes that humans may label Gu Spirits as evil while he himself is similarly condemned. His sympathy for them complicates the simple division between good and evil.
• Loyalty and manipulation: The Golden Silkworm Deity claims to offer freedom but attempts to force Eight-Handed into serving him, revealing the difference between genuine liberation and another form of domination.
• Communication and understanding: Xiao cannot understand the Gu Spirit’s chirping, yet sincerity and shared experience allow them to establish trust despite the language barrier.
• Resentment and identity: Eight-Handed’s appearance and powers may have been created through the use of Ma Chunyu’s body and other souls, raising questions about how Gu Spirits retain identity after being artificially transformed.

4. Character Interactions

• Xiao and Ma Huoxin: Xiao deceives Ma Huoxin with an excuse about stomach trouble in order to investigate the chirping, while Ma Huoxin cautiously provides the Walking Corpse for protection.
• Xiao and Eight-Handed: They exchange information about Ma Chunyu. Eight-Handed thanks Xiao, and the Nine-Colored Divine Gu heals him, creating the foundation for an alliance.
• Xiao and the Nine-Colored Divine Gu: Their relationship shifts from dangerous confrontation to mutual recognition and possible friendship.
• Eight-Handed and the Golden Silkworm Deity: The Golden Silkworm Deity tries to recruit Eight-Handed by appealing to its desire for freedom, but Eight-Handed refuses. Their disagreement becomes a violent battle.
• Xiao and the Golden Silkworm Deity: They trade insults and ideological arguments before fighting briefly. Xiao physically intervenes to save Eight-Handed and openly declares that he will oppose the Golden Silkworm Deity’s plans.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Golden Silkworm Deity chases after the Eight-Handed Gu Spirit.
• Kunlun decides to grow stronger to face the Golden Silkworm Deity.
• Kunlun learns about different types of zombies and corpses from Ma Huoxin.
• Kunlun, Ma Erlei, and Xiao Yudao return to Camellia Village.
• Kunlun decides to hatch the Earth Egg using moonlight.

Character Developments

• Kunlun becomes more determined to increase his strength to protect himself and others from the Golden Silkworm Deity.
• Ma Huoxin shares his knowledge about zombies and corpses, revealing his desire to pass on his skills.
• Chen Junfeng and Guo Ni arrive at Camellia Village, seeking refuge for the night.

Significant Themes

• Strength and power: Kunlun's desire to grow stronger to protect himself and face the Golden Silkworm Deity.
• Knowledge and learning: Ma Huoxin shares his knowledge about zombies and corpses, highlighting the importance of learning and passing on skills.
• Trust and deception: Kunlun warns Guo Ni about the Golden Silkworm Gu, showing his concern for her safety, while also being cautious about Chen Junfeng's intentions.

Character Interactions

• Kunlun and Ma Huoxin: They share a mentor-mentee relationship, with Ma Huoxin trying to pass on his knowledge to Kunlun.
• Kunlun and Guo Ni: They have a friendly relationship, with Kunlun warning Guo Ni about the Golden Silkworm Gu and Guo Ni advising Kunlun to hatch the Earth Egg.
• Kunlun and Chen Junfeng: Kunlun is cautious around Chen Junfeng, warning him about the Golden Silkworm Gu and hinting at his suspicious intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Kunlun discovers Chen Junfeng trying to steal his Gu insects using Demon Moths.
• A Skeleton Man, who had been following Xiao, reveals himself and chases Chen Junfeng away.
• The Skeleton Man offers to protect Xiao and teach him gu arts.

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: Becomes more alert and cautious, showing his ability to adapt to dangerous situations.
• Chen Junfeng: Reveals his dishonest nature and is chased away by the Skeleton Man.
• The Skeleton Man: Shows his strength and ability to communicate, albeit limitedly. He reveals a connection to Xiao Kunlun's past.

Significant Themes

• Trust and Betrayal: Chen Junfeng's attempt to steal Xiao's Gu insects highlights the lack of trust among the characters.
• Identity and Belonging: The Skeleton Man's recognition of Xiao suggests a connection to Xiao's past, raising questions about his identity and origins.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Kunlun and Chen Junfeng: Their interaction highlights Chen Junfeng's deceitfulness and Xiao's ability to stand up for himself.
• Xiao Kunlun and The Skeleton Man: Their interaction suggests a possible past connection and a potential mentorship dynamic, with the Skeleton Man offering to teach Xiao gu arts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, Kunlun, meets a skeleton man who offers to teach him gu arts.
• Kunlun decides to live in a cave with the skeleton man, who he names Skeleton Man.
• Skeleton Man dislikes and throws away Kunlun's Three-Corpse Snake Gu, but later saves Ma Erlei from a Five-Colored Gu.
• Guo Ni, a woman Kunlun helped, comes to say goodbye before leaving for Fengling Ferry. She invites Kunlun to visit her there.
• The first snow of winter falls in Camellia Village.

Character Developments

• Kunlun: Becomes more comfortable around Skeleton Man, asks for his guidance in gu arts, and shows concern for Ma Erlei's well-being.
• Skeleton Man: Demonstrates his ability to sense and remove gu worms, showing he has powerful gu arts despite his limited communication.
• Guo Ni: Shows gratitude and affection towards Kunlun, inviting him to visit her at Fengling Ferry.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and camaraderie: Kunlun's acceptance of Skeleton Man as a friend and Guo Ni's invitation to Kunlun to visit her.
• Growth and learning: Kunlun's eagerness to learn gu arts from Skeleton Man.
• Parting and new beginnings: Guo Ni's departure and her invitation to Kunlun to visit her in the future.

Character Interactions

• Kunlun and Skeleton Man: They establish a bond, with Kunlun asking Skeleton Man for guidance and Skeleton Man saving Ma Erlei.
• Kunlun and Guo Ni: They express gratitude and affection for each other before parting ways.
• Kunlun and Ma Erlei: Kunlun shows concern for Ma Erlei's well-being, and Ma Erlei is grateful to Kunlun and Skeleton Man for saving him from the Five-Colored Gu.

Chapter Summary: “Spirit Insect”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Winter traps Camellia Village beneath heavy snow, forcing the venomous insects into hiding. Xiao Kunlun continues Skeleton Man’s punishing mountain runs, hunts with Ma Erlei, and makes himself a rabbit-fur coat and preserved meat.
• He finishes improving Corpse Man Cave by building benches, a stone table, an earthen stove, and a smoke flue. The cave becomes a warmer, more livable home.
• The Black and White Worms recover under the moonlight, regaining their vitality and distinctive colors. Xiao believes they will help him defeat Wu Daochao in the future.
• The Earth Egg develops a crack after being exposed to moonlight for nearly forty-nine nights. Xiao expects the spirit insect inside to hatch and hopes it will protect him from the Innate Insect, allowing him to study Gu arts without constantly fearing death.
• On the night of the expected hatching, five injured Gu Spirits arrive: Five-Poison Monster, Centipede Man, Scorpion Monster, Red-Clad Woman, and Three-Eyed Crone. They ask to borrow the Earth Egg spirit insect for five moonlit nights so it can restore their damaged souls.
• Five-Poison Monster explains that they are being hunted by the Golden Silkworm Gu Spirit. They rejected the Golden Silkworm Deity’s offer of “freedom” because serving him would require them to harm many people.
• After Skeleton Man confirms that their request is not deceptive, Xiao agrees to let the spirit insect help them, provided it is not harmed. The Five Spirits accept his conditions and wait respectfully.
• The Earth Egg begins to split open, revealing a small blue insect surrounded by blue spiritual energy. Skeleton Man warns that the insect must crawl out by itself and cannot be removed prematurely.
• Before the hatching is complete, attackers ambush the group. Iron nails strike Skeleton Man, while talismans injure and scatter the Gu Spirits. The attackers mistake Xiao, Skeleton Man, and the Gu Spirits for zombies and evil witchcraft creatures.
• As the attackers move to seize them, an iron nail strikes and shatters the Earth Egg’s shell, leaving the spirit insect’s fate uncertain.

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun becomes more self-reliant and capable. He survives the winter, improves his physical strength, builds a functional home, and prepares carefully for the spirit insect’s birth.
• His confidence grows as he sees the Black and White Worms recover and anticipates gaining protection from the Innate Insect. At the same time, he remains cautious and seeks Skeleton Man’s judgment before making important decisions.
• Xiao also demonstrates compassion and moral responsibility by agreeing to help the injured Gu Spirits rather than treating the Earth Egg solely as his own weapon.
• Skeleton Man continues to act as Xiao’s protector, trainer, and guide. He watches over the Earth Egg, communicates increasingly clearly through gestures, confirms the Five Spirits’ sincerity, and shields Xiao during the ambush.
• The Five Gu Spirits are introduced as frightening but desperate figures. Their refusal to serve the Golden Silkworm Deity reveals that they retain moral principles despite their damaged, monstrous forms.

Significant Themes

• Survival and preparation: Xiao endures the harsh winter through discipline, hunting, crafting, and improving his shelter.
• Trust and compassion: Xiao risks sharing a powerful treasure with the Gu Spirits after judging their motives, emphasizing mercy and solidarity among persecuted beings.
• Freedom versus servitude: The Five Spirits reject the Golden Silkworm Deity because his version of freedom would merely replace one form of bondage with moral corruption.
• Patience and natural processes: The Earth Egg must hatch on its own, reinforcing the importance of respecting the proper timing of spiritual transformation.
• Fragile hope: Xiao believes the spirit insect may free him from the Innate Insect’s threat, but the sudden attack shows how quickly that hope can be endangered.
• Misunderstanding and prejudice: The attackers immediately label the characters as monsters and enemies, acting violently without understanding the situation.

Character Interactions

• Xiao and Skeleton Man develop a close partnership built on mutual reliance. Xiao asks for guidance, while Skeleton Man protects him and confirms crucial information through gestures.
• Xiao negotiates with Five-Poison Monster, establishing clear conditions before agreeing to help the injured spirits.
• Five-Poison Monster speaks for the silent Gu Spirits and presents them as loyal, desperate beings rather than aggressors. Their respectful behavior reinforces their sincerity.
• The chapter ends with the fragile alliance disrupted by unknown attackers, whose assault threatens Xiao, Skeleton Man, the Five Spirits, and the newly hatching spirit insect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Earth Egg spirit insect hatches, but it's critically injured by an iron nail thrown by a young Daoist nun.
• Xiao Kunlun, the protagonist, is devastated and confronts the Daoists.
• The Daoists, led by an old Daoist named Zhang Yinjun, surround Xiao Kunlun and the Skeleton Man.
• Xiao Kunlun captures the young Daoist nun to protect the Skeleton Man and himself.

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: He becomes increasingly angry and desperate, willing to do anything to protect his friends and himself. He's also more open about his disdain for the Daoists.
• Skeleton Man: He shows concern for Xiao Kunlun's safety, willing to sacrifice himself to let Xiao Kunlun escape.

Significant Themes

• Good vs. Evil: The Daoists consider themselves righteous, while Xiao Kunlun sees them as hypocritical and evil.
• Loyalty and Friendship: Xiao Kunlun and the Skeleton Man are willing to protect each other, showing a deep bond.
• Desperation and Survival: Xiao Kunlun is driven to desperation, willing to do anything to survive.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Kunlun and the Daoists: Xiao Kunlun is hostile towards the Daoists, blaming them for the destruction of his Earth Egg spirit insect and his chance to survive.
• Xiao Kunlun and the Skeleton Man: They show mutual concern and loyalty, willing to protect each other.
• The Daoists: They work together to subdue the Skeleton Man, showing a united front.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Tianxing arrives, revealing himself as a Gold Zombie to the shock of Zhang Yinjun.
• Gu Mengfu, the Daoist nun, admits to killing Xiao Kunlun's life-saving spirit insect and offers to find her uncle, Gu Xiucheng, to treat him.
• Zhang Yinjun and his companions flee after Xiao Tianxing pursues them, and Xiao Kunlun supports Skeleton Man, who was injured by Zhang Yinjun's ink line.
• Xiao Tianxing returns and reveals that the Earth Egg spirit insect is practically dead. He suggests that Xiao Kunlun swallow it, which he does without harm.

Character Developments

• Xiao Kunlun: He shows kindness and mercy towards Gu Mengfu, despite her harming his spirit insect. He also demonstrates his determination to repay Xiao Tianxing's kindness and his resolve to avenge his past.
• Xiao Tianxing: He reveals his true identity as a Gold Zombie and shows concern for Xiao Kunlun's well-being, offering him advice on how to handle difficult situations.
• Gu Mengfu: She feels guilty for harming Xiao Kunlun's spirit insect and offers to find her uncle to treat him, showing a change of heart towards Xiao Kunlun.

Significant Themes

• Kindness and Mercy: Xiao Kunlun shows kindness and mercy towards Gu Mengfu, even after she harms his spirit insect, demonstrating his compassionate nature.
• Vengeance and Redemption: Xiao Kunlun's desire for vengeance against those who wronged him in the past is a driving force for his actions, and he expresses his determination to repay Xiao Tianxing's kindness in the future.
• The Power of Friendship and Mentorship: Xiao Tianxing's guidance and support for Xiao Kunlun highlight the importance of friendship and mentorship in helping one grow and overcome challenges.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Kunlun and Gu Mengfu: Their interaction reveals Gu Mengfu's guilt over harming Xiao Kunlun's spirit insect and her offer to find her uncle to treat him, showing a change in her attitude towards him.
• Xiao Kunlun and Xiao Tianxing: Their interaction demonstrates the strong bond between them, with Xiao Tianxing offering guidance and support to Xiao Kunlun, and Xiao Kunlun expressing his determination to repay Xiao Tianxing's kindness.
• Xiao Tianxing and Zhang Yinjun: Their interaction reveals the tension between zombies and Daoists, with Zhang Yinjun expressing fear and hostility towards Xiao Tianxing upon learning his identity as a Gold Zombie.