Summary of "Four Meet for the First Time in the Small Courtyard, and Their Dreams Are Not Grand!"

1. Key Plot Points / Events

• Early morning: Xie Wanwan, unable to sleep after Yu Ke gave her an opportunity during the trial, leaves her room and meets Yu Ke in the courtyard.
• Chen Jingqiu, the new neighbor from the Chen Clan of Luo Cloud Peak, invites Yu Ke and Xie Wanwan to share a luxurious breakfast infused with spiritual medicines.
• Chen Jingqiu notices that Yu Ke has reached the complete stage of the Second Heavenly Ladder and opened his Divine Heaven Point, leaving him one step from Foundation Establishment.
• Yu Ke admits he has no concrete plan for Foundation Establishment yet.
• Wang Yunxi, Chen Jingqiu’s cousin, reveals that the veiled woman on Chen’s carriage is Mingzhu, a princess of the East Sea Merfolk Clan, who voluntarily serves Chen Jingqiu. Chen gently scolds Wang Yunxi for mocking her.
• Cai Yingzhao, the white-clad resident of the western house, crosses the courtyard with a divine bird on his shoulder. The bird plucks a pear blossom before he nods to Yu Ke.
• Wang Yunxi identifies Cai Yingzhao as the divine son of the Cai Family, said to have been born with True Phoenix marks and protected by a phoenix.
• The group suspects Cai Yingzhao came for Fairy Yunxiao’s mountain-opening event, but Yu Ke remains focused on his modest goal: entering the Inner Sect.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Recently strengthened after opening his Divine Heaven Point, but remains humble and unassuming. His dream is deliberately small — simply to become an Inner Sect disciple, not to chase world-shaking opportunities.
• Xie Wanwan: Emotionally unsettled by Yu Ke’s kindness in the trial; she rises early for once and begins to see Yu Ke in a new light — as diligent, composed, and unexpectedly remarkable.
• Chen Jingqiu: Generous and courteous despite his elite background. He treats fellow disciples with warmth, offers valuable spiritual food, and defends Mingzhu’s dignity.
• Wang Yunxi: Protective of her cousin and a bit jealous of the interruption; sharp at recognizing important cultivators, but sharply corrected when she crosses the line.
• Cai Yingzhao: Aloof, mysterious, and silent; he barely acknowledges the others, but shares a slight nod of recognition with Yu Ke.

3. Significant Themes

• Hidden prestige in ordinary places: A small sect courtyard houses elites from the Chen Clan, the Cai Family, and a Merfolk princess.
• Humble ambition vs. grand destiny: Yu Ke’s “not grand” dream contrasts with the heavenly-scale events and extraordinary bloodlines around him.
• Wealth and cultivation resources: Spirit-medicine breakfasts, companion treasures, and True Spirit lineages highlight the gap between ordinary cultivators and great families.
• Politeness vs. pride: Chen Jingqiu models humility and respect, while Wang Yunxi displays family pride and mild disdain before being corrected.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke and Xie Wanwan: Exchange warm morning greetings; Xie Wanwan keenly notices Yu Ke’s appearance, steadiness, and persistence.
• Chen Jingqiu and Yu Ke: Chen acts as a gracious host, inquiring about Yu Ke’s cultivation and offering a specially prepared nourishing soup.
• Chen Jingqiu and Wang Yunxi: A cousinly dynamic; Chen corrects her disrespect toward Mingzhu, and she immediately apologizes.
• Yu Ke and Cai Yingzhao: Share a silent nod, acknowledging their earlier acquaintance over the house rental; Cai otherwise ignores everyone.
• Wang Yunxi and Xie Wanwan: Both recognize Cai Yingzhao’s identity, reinforcing the sense that extraordinary figures have quietly gathered in this small courtyard.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Ke is astounded to learn that the strange bird on Cai Yingzhao's shoulder may be a True Spirit—a being whose power rivals a Grand True Person.
• Chen Jingqiu explains that True Spirits rarely serve as "Dao protectors"; most are near the end of their lives and gamble on a chosen person's future. Wang Yunxi adds that when her cousin was born, four True Spirits offered to serve him, but Patriarch Chen Xiao refused.
• The conversation shifts to Foundation Establishment. Chen Jingqiu outlines the nine grades of Foundation Establishment: only grades 1–3 (Upper-grade) allow one to hope for the Grand True Person realm; middle/lower grades can rarely overcome this fate.
• The legendary Donghua True Lord is cited as an example of a lower-grade cultivator who defied expectations. Chen reveals a hidden secret: Donghua only rose to power after risking entry into the forbidden Jade Pool, not purely by talent.
• Hidden Immortal Lands such as Jade Pool, Dragon Abyss, Heavenly Emperor Dao Ground, and Return Ruins are mentioned—ancient ruins too dangerous even for Grand True Persons, but full of potential fortune.
• Chen Jingqiu gives detailed practical advice on Foundation Establishment: choosing an auspicious date, considering five-element weather, using proper pills, and correctly planting Dao arts.
• A whole morning passes; Yu Ke and Xie Wanwan listen intently. Yu Ke asks many questions, and Chen answers patiently.

Character Developments

• Yu Ke remains calm and thoughtful, reflecting on his simulated experiences (Lu Yu and Lu Chen). He values this rare guidance and realizes his former self lacked such opportunities. He expresses ambition through the line: “Walk the Road to Heaven, tread in song!”
• Chen Jingqiu is knowledgeable and generous with his time toward Yu Ke, explaining even the finest details without impatience—contrasting sharply with his cold attitude toward his own cousin.
• Wang Yunxi grows slightly jealous and pouts inwardly, noticing that Chen Jingqiu is far more enthusiastic about teaching Yu Ke than he ever was with her (he once simply said “Not free!”).
• Xie Wanwan is shocked by the True Spirit revelation and later listens seriously to the Foundation Establishment lecture.

Significant Themes

• Foundation Establishment as a dividing line between ordinary cultivators and potential great ones; it is both a measure of talent and a harsh filter for resources.
• Luck versus innate talent: Donghua True Lord’s story shows that even a low-grade cultivator can rise, but only with extreme luck and forbidden opportunities.
• The cruelty of the cultivation world: the strong thrive, the weak are expendable; one must advance or be left behind.
• Risky bargains with True Spirits: even spiritual beings may stake their lives and fate on a chosen mortal.

Character Interactions

• Chen Jingqiu acts as a mentor figure to Yu Ke, giving him crucial cultivation knowledge.
• Wang Yunxi observes her cousin’s unusual warmth toward Yu Ke and feels mildly resentful.
• Yu Ke and Xie Wanwan are both learners, absorbing Chen Jingqiu’s explanations together.
• The group shares a moment of reflection after Chen’s speech, with Yu Ke’s poetic words earning Chen’s sincere praise.

Chapter Summary: "The Divine Firmament Sect Does Not Keep Idlers; The Splendor of This Sword!"

Key Plot Points

1. Yu Ke, deeply grateful for Chen Jingqiu's morning of Foundation Establishment guidance, departs with Xie Wanwan to rent a cultivation cave dwelling at the Outer Sect East Court.
2. The chapter details the sect's cave dwelling system: expensive, spiritually dense, highly secure (openable only from within), with optional elder protection services—all following the founder's principle that "the Divine Firmament Sect does not keep idlers."
3. Yu Ke decides against hiring an elder guardian because he carries valuable treasures and needs caution.
4. After the others leave, Chen Jingqiu examines the practice dummy Yu Ke used. He has Wang Yunxi slash it; she cuts three inches deep using her bloodline Dao art "Bright Moon Rising over the Sea."
5. Chen Jingqiu reveals Yu Ke used only ~10% of his spiritual power with no Dao art, yet destroyed the dummy's interior.
6. When Wang Yunxi calls Yu Ke "Junior Brother" instead of "Senior Brother," Chen Jingqiu coldly rebukes her for violating sect etiquette.
7. Chen Jingqiu demonstrates by splitting the dummy with a wind blade, exposing the wave-like ripple marks inside—evidence of Yu Ke's devastating hidden strength—then repairs it with another Dao art, all without establishing his foundation.
8. A flashback reveals Chen Jingqiu's prodigious background: starlight illuminated him while reading as a youth, he read 10,000 scriptures by age three, was named next clan head at four, and has traveled the Three Continents.
9. Chen Jingqiu muses that his trip to the Divine Firmament Sect "will not be boring," signaling his interest in Yu Ke.

Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Practical and cautious (refuses elder protection due to his treasures); impressed by but curious about Chen Jingqiu's anomalous knowledge. His sword slash secretly signals far greater power than he outwardly shows.
• Chen Jingqiu: Revealed as a "heaven-chosen prodigy" from the Chen Clan—immensely powerful even pre-Foundation, able to use multiple Dao arts effortlessly. Strict about sect hierarchy/formalities, observant, and intrigued by Yu Ke.
• Wang Yunxi: Proud and somewhat spoiled (direct inner sect admission, gifted bloodline), but deferential to her cousin despite feeling wronged by his scolding.
• Xie Wanwan: Playful and curious (attempts to pet the Thunder Marsh White Tiger, which rejects her with a paw).

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength/mystery: Yu Ke's casual strike contained devastating destructive power, foreshadowing his potential.
• Sect philosophy: Everything has a price; the Divine Firmament Sect runs on meritocratic exchange.
• Status and hierarchy: Inner vs. outer sect distinctions, proper address, and bloodline privilege vs. earned ability.
• Prodigy vs. prodigy: Chen Jingqiu's awe-inspiring background sets up an intriguing dynamic with Yu Ke's concealed power.

Character Interactions

• Yu Ke ↔ Chen Jingqiu: Mutual respect; grateful disciple and generous, enigmatic teacher.
• Chen Jingqiu ↔ Wang Yunxi: Tense cousin dynamic—he coldly corrects her etiquette and challenges her pride, leaving her hurt but ultimately convinced.
• Xie Wanwan ↔ White Tiger: Humorous beat—the tiger denies her attempted "head pat," treating her with feline disdain.
• Yu Ke ↔ Mermaid maid: Exchanged polite bows; Yu Ke privately wonders about mermaid anatomy (fish tail vs. legs), finding no visible traits.

Summary of Chapter: "Renting a Cave Dwelling, Simulation Begins!"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Ke visits the Good Fortune Merchant House to rent a cave dwelling for Foundation Establishment preparation.
• He discovers prices have risen significantly due to recent events: Fairy Yunxiao opening her mountain and an unusual three-term Outer Sect Tournament.
• Mid-grade cave dwellings cost 3,000 Spirit Stones per day; fifteen days would cost 45,000 Spirit Stones—nearly all of Yu Ke's funds.
• Xie Wanwan pays 50,000 Spirit Stones on his behalf (covering rent plus deposit).
• Yu Ke registers with the merchant house, selects a cave dwelling, and adds the receptionist Mi Die's communication talisman.
• They return to the small courtyard; Yu Ke finds a storage pouch with 30,000 Spirit Stones—the remaining payment from Cai Yingzhao for the concealed weapon.
• Yu Ke now has 80,000 Spirit Stones but owes 45,000 in debts.
• At midnight, the great cauldron triggers a new simulation cycle, and Yu Ke agrees to simulate.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Shows financial anxiety about cultivation costs; displays pragmatic thinking about debts; demonstrates gratitude toward Xie Wanwan; remains cautious about Zhou Liang's sudden silence (he suspects Zhou may have left the sect).
• Xie Wanwan: Shows generosity (willing to pay 50,000 without hesitation); reveals her wealthy background (2,000 monthly allowance, 100,000+ yearly dividends); visibly delighted when Yu Ke affectionately calls her "Wanwan."
• Mi Die: Introduced as a capable, professional servant disciple at the merchant house; deliberately adds Yu Ke's communication talisman (not standard procedure); shows particular interest in him despite him being only an Outer Disciple.
• Zhou Liang: Absent but referenced—has not replied to Yu Ke's messages, causing concern.

3. Significant Themes

• Sect social hierarchy: Distinctions between Inner Disciples, Outer Disciples, and Servant Disciples; how this affects status, resources, and opportunities.
• Economic pressure of cultivation: The crushing cost of Foundation Establishment resources; financial burden even for capable cultivators.
• Patronage and social connections: Xie Wanwan's wealth as a resource; Cai Yingzhao's transaction; the importance of relationships.
• The Divine Firmament Sect's institutional strength: Its teaching system and advancement paths that ensure loyalty across generations of disciples.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke & Xie Wanwan: She notices his financial distress, offers to pay, becomes emotionally moved when he calls her "Wanwan"; their relationship deepens.
• Yu Ke & Mi Die: Professional transaction; he registers information, they exchange communication talismans under the guise of business necessity.
• Mi Die & fellow servant disciples: She is teased by colleagues for her interest in the handsome Outer Disciple; reveals she hired them and holds authority.
• Xie Wanwan & Zhou Liang: Mentioned—Zhou Liang declined to add her communication talisman, raising Yu Ke's concerns.
• Cai Yingzhao (off-screen): Delivers final payment discreetly, indicating trust and informal business practices.

Summary: "This Life, My Name Is Xie Guan" (Chapter Excerpt)

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Identity Selection: In the Kun Void Cauldron, Yu Ke is given five identity options (aristocratic scion, commoner, military general's son, merchant's son, great demon bloodline). He systematically eliminates options and chooses Scion of an Aristocratic Clan.
• Fate & Talent: He receives the fate [Early Wisdom] and the talent [Divine Penmanship] (extraordinary painting/calligraphy skill approaching the divine), and solidifies his previous life's talent "Calmness Within."
• World Background: He reincarnates into the Qi Kingdom in the Central Lands — a Confucian-dominated era where imperial power is controlled by powerful ministers (Su, Zhuge, Li, Zhao, Yuan, Xie, Sima, Xue, Zhang — the Nine Great Surnames). The previous emperor died in despondency; the current emperor Chen Yan is weak and later becomes obsessed with mystical cultivation. Demons, evil cults, and uprisings plague the realm.
• The Xie Clan's Past: A prior coup attempt by Emperor Xianhe (then Crown Prince) and Xie Yuan (the protagonist's uncle) was betrayed by his own father, Xie Ling. The Wang and Xie main branches were bloodily purged, but Xie Ling was rewarded for his betrayal and later became Marquis Dingyuan.
• Xie Guan's Birth: Born in the 7th year of Xianhe as an illegitimate son — his mother, a maidservant, was raped by a drunken Xie Ling. For a year he has no name or identity.
• The Naming Scene: On the hundred-day banquet of his legitimate half-brother Xie Yu (born the same day as him), his mother kneels in the rear courtyard, begging Xie Ling to name their child. Xie Ling ignores them entirely. The Old Madam finally bestows the name Xie Guan to preserve family honor, and his mother kowtows tearfully in gratitude.
• Aftermath: Xie Guan and his mother are ostracized, relocated to a servant laundry courtyard, their supplies cut, the nanny abandons them, leaving only one maid. Xie Guan turns two.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke/Xie Guan: Decisive and pragmatic in choosing his identity. Born into extreme humiliation and neglect, he shows remarkable composure (a one-year-old who neither cries nor fusses while clutching his mother's hand). He begins life with nothing — no status, no recognition from his father — yet has been granted a name at last.
• Xie Ling (Father): Cold, ruthless, and utterly indifferent. He betrayed his own clansmen to rise in power, ignores his illegitimate son's existence, and refuses even to grant him a name until forced by family elders.
• Xie Guan's Mother: Frail but devoted, she suffers humiliation and kneels through the banquet to secure her son's identity. Her only victory is obtaining a name for him.
• Old Madam (Xie Clan matriarch): Pragmatic; acts only to protect the family's honor, not out of compassion.

3. Significant Themes

• Legitimacy and Shame: In a Confucian society governed by ritual and filial piety, being born out of wedlock marks both mother and child as sources of shame, subject to contempt and marginalization.
• Family Betrayal and Ambition: The Xie Clan's rise was purchased through Xie Ling's betrayal of his own uncle and kin — a dark foundation for the family's current prosperity.
• Power Decoupled from Virtue: The Nine Great Surnames control the court with Confucian rhetoric while engaging in ruthless internal struggles; the official ideology (sole honor of Confucianism) masks corruption and decay.
• The Individual vs. the System: Despite gaining a name, Xie Guan's status remains negligible — a bastard in a house that values lineage above all. His struggle begins from the lowest rung within a powerful clan.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke and the Cauldron: The system prompts him through choices, rewarding careful decision-making and carrying over previous-life talents.
• Xie Guan's Mother and Xie Ling: She kneels and pleads; he is cold and deaf — their confrontation is one-sided, underscoring her helplessness and his cruelty.
• The Guests and Family Elders: Several elders from other prestigious families speak up for the mother, but their intervention is merely performative ritual duty; Xie Ling disregards them and walks away.
• The Principal Wife (Li Clan daughter): Shatters her jade cup in rage at the disruption, revealing her resentment, but she refrains from outright persecution to protect her reputation.
• The Family's Young Masters: Watch with curiosity, disdain, or anger — none show sympathy, signaling the hostile environment Xie Guan will grow up in.

The instant the words were spoken, a silver light burst forth from the cauldron, enveloping Yu Ke's entire being.
Three streams of brilliance, each with a distinct quality, entered his crown—one clear as mountain spring water, one deep as ancient well water, one sharp as a whetstone's edge.
His turbulent heart, which had been gripped by the grief of Mother's death and the loneliness of the present, suddenly settled like autumn water after rain. Unfamiliar insights drifted through his mind like the first pages of a vast book being turned—not knowledge learned, but knowledge understood, as if a clear mirror had been wiped clean of dust.
Early Wisdom allowed him to see connections he had missed. Calmness Within steadied his qi and held his spirit firm. Divine Penmanship... he felt it in his fingers, a strange certainty that once a brush touched paper, the characters that emerged would be flawless, alive.
The pillar of light faded. The cauldron's glow dimmed, returning to its ordinary bronze appearance. Within the system interface, the three talents gleamed steadily, as if awaiting his use.
Yu Ke drew a long breath.
He stood alone on the mountain path of Luhua Ridge, the wild grass rustling around him. The sky had dimmed to a gray-blue, afternoon clouds pressing low over the hills. Before him, the road curved deeper into the mountains, where the maples grew thick and the forest began to close in.
The shopkeeper at the post station had spoken of "night marchers"—travelers who vanished between the ridge and the next county town. At first, people blamed bandits. Then the corpses began appearing, drained of blood, with no wounds to be found.
The county magistrate's runners had dared not investigate further, and so the report had reached the Imperial Academy's Section of Records—a low-priority matter, passed to the lowest-ranking official available.
That official was Yu Ke.
"If you can handle the yamen work, you can settle a small demon case," his supervisor had said with a wave of his hand. "Or just file the report when you return. Either way."
The implication was clear. This was a task meant to fail, so that Yu Ke's promotion would be delayed another term.
But Yu Ke had other plans.
The newly settled clarity in his mind sharpened as he forced himself to observe his surroundings. The mountain road was poorly maintained, stones jutting through cracked earth, weeds encroaching on both sides. He noted the trees—maples, oaks, and some shrubs he couldn't name—and the way certain trunks bore a faint, greasy discoloration.
Like the residue left by smoke.
Yu Ke knelt just off the path, brushing his fingers through a patch of dry leaves. There—a faint darkening of the soil, as if something heavy had been dragged this way and left a trail of dried moisture that had soaked into the ground.
Not blood. Something darker, almost oily.
He rose, following the faint trail at a steady pace. The deeper he went, the more he noticed the silence of the woods. No birdsong. No insects. The maples seemed healthy, their leaves bright red and orange as autumn turned, but something about the order of their arrangement struck him as wrong.
Between two ordinary trees, he paused.
They stood at odd angles—one leaning east, one leaning south—yet their canopy branches had grown toward each other, intertwining like twisted rope. And at the base of each trunk, set at exactly the same height, were chips in the bark.
Fresh chips. As if an ax had been taken to them recently.
Yu Ke's heart beat steadily, but his gaze did not waver. Calmness Within. He recognized the pattern now—this was one of the most basic formations used to misdirect travelers, a "lost-forest" array. Harmless on its own, but effective at steering victims toward a chosen destination.
He stepped between the two trees.
The world tilted.
The trees seemed to close around him, the path vanishing behind a sudden screen of branches. Ahead, the way opened into a clearing that had not existed a moment before, where the maples gave way to pines—tall, dark, with bark like scales—and in the center of the clearing lay a pool of black water.
On the water's surface floated a raft of woven branches, tied with strips of cloth. At its center rested a set of ink, brush, and paper, untouched by the ripples that occasionally crossed the black pool's surface.
A hand emerged from the water—pale, long-fingered, grasping the raft's edge.
Yu Ke's shoulder tensed. Instinct told him to retreat, to melt back into the treeline, but Calmness Within held his feet steady. The hand did not move. It just rested there, dripping water that ran thick and dark.
He focused his gaze on the raft, and through the lens of his newly awakened Early Wisdom, the scene rearranged itself into sense.
This was a passage fare.
The hand was not a hand—it was a branch, carved and polished to resemble one, and the water was not water but congealed shadow, pooling where the earth should have been solid. The ink, brush, and paper on the raft were a trap for the curious: the moment one touched them, the ink would become a binding talisman, and the paper would anchor one's soul.
Someone had prepared this place carefully. A professional. A cultivator with real training.
The hand remained still, as though waiting. The shadow-water shifted, and a shape began to surface beneath it, rising slowly toward the raft—
Yu Ke moved.
He stepped retreat, his right hand forming the first seal of the Academy's basic Nine Palace Evasion technique, intended to break formations rather than fight. His fingers traced a character in the air, and the heavy pressure of the clearing lightened by a fraction. The path behind him reopened, a sliver of autumn sunlight breaking through the pines.
The shape beneath the shadow-water paused. Whether in frustration or indifference, Yu Ke did not stay to learn which.
He slipped through the gap in the trees and emerged on the ordinary mountain path once more—leaves rustling, a chill breeze against his face. The forest behind him stood as it had before, silent and serene.
He glanced at his hands. They were steady.
His shoulder bore a faint, cold ache where the shadow had brushed him—but no wound. The mark seemed faint, like a bruise that would fade by morning.
His mind was racing, but not with fear.
With understanding.
A formed territory with a guardian spirit. A passage fare designed to ensnare travelers who follow the wrong path. This isn't simple night-marcher predation; someone is harvesting souls with a methodical arrangement.
But where is the cultivator? The shadow-water was an external formation, tied to no master's presence. I could feel it—the controller was far away, the web laid out without a spider in residence.
He reached into his sleeve and withdrew the

Summary

1. Key Plot Points

• Xie Guan’s mother dies; the funeral is simple and rushed, with no relatives attending. She is buried on Mang Mountain, and her name is not recorded in the Xie Ancestral Temple.
• As a legitimate son, Xie Guan enters a 25-month mourning period. He stays shut inside his courtyard for months after her death, reportedly weeping until he loses his sight.
• The Xie family hears of his condition: Old Madam Xie sends vegetarian food, the clan mistresses send clothes, and a physician is arranged to treat his eyes.
• During the summer, the official physician Hua An examines Xie Guan. He confirms the eyes are healing—Xie Guan only needs to avoid bright light for 100 days and may move about blindfolded.
• While the physician is present, Shilan, head maid of Xie Renfeng (the favored Third Young Master of the clan’s second residence), arrives with medicinal gifts. She then reveals Xie Renfeng’s offer: he wants Parasol Tree as his personal maid.
• Parasol Tree refuses, insisting she will not abandon Xie Guan in his misfortune.
• Xie Guan emerges calmly from his room, thanks the physician, greets Shilan politely, and tells Parasol Tree to make tea—demonstrating a new, mature composure.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Guan: At only ten years old, he appears transformed. Once a grieving, isolated boy, he now shows self-possession, calmness, and the bearing of someone who can manage a household. His quiet maturity under adversity is the central development.
• Parasol Tree: Though still young, she shows loyalty and moral strength. Despite poverty and the tempting offer of a better position in a wealthy household, she refuses to abandon Xie Guan. Her gratitude to his late mother guides her choice.
• Shilan: Presented as a privileged, sharp-minded head maid. She is not malicious, but she is pragmatic and assumes Parasol Tree would leap at the chance to leave—underestimating Parasol Tree’s devotion and Xie Guan’s potential.
• Xie Renfeng (off-screen): Kind and thoughtful toward Parasol Tree, but his gift and offer also reveal the clan’s assumption that Xie Guan’s future is hopeless.

3. Significant Themes

• Grief and sudden maturity: The death of Xie Guan’s mother forces him to grow up overnight.
• Filial piety and ritual: Mourning customs, the role of a legal mother, and the importance of a son’s duty shape the household’s behavior.
• Loyalty vs. advancement: Parasol Tree chooses gratitude and faithfulness over personal gain.
• Clan hierarchies and neglect: The contrast between the favored second residence and Xie Guan’s shabby courtyard highlights social inequality even within one family.
• Appearances vs. reality: Xie Guan seems broken and doomed, but his inner composure suggests otherwise.

4. Character Interactions

• Parasol Tree and Shilan: Shilan praises the new position and argues it is Parasol Tree’s good fortune; Parasol Tree firmly refuses, citing her deceased mistress’s kindness. Shilan counters that the choice is ultimately not Parasol Tree’s, but her master’s.
• Physician Hua An and Xie Guan: Hua An gives the hopeful diagnosis and treats Xie Guan with respect; Xie Guan asks him to relay thanks to Madam Yuan, his lawful mother.
• Shilan and Xie Guan: She is surprised by his calm demeanor and quiet confidence, which contradict the rumors of his ruin. Xie Guan receives her politely and maintains his dignity.
• Xie Guan and Parasol Tree: His simple instruction, “Make tea,” shows he is stepping into his role as her master again—no longer a helpless child, but a composed young head of his small household.

Summary: No One Is Ever at the End of the Road, the Confucian Master!

Key Plot Points

• In Xie Manor, the young, blind illegitimate son Xie Guan receives a visit from Shilan, a maid serving Xie Renfeng (Second Young Master). She asks for Xie Guan’s maid Parasol Tree to be transferred to Renfeng’s courtyard, promising in exchange: a proper education, access to renowned Confucian scholars, better physicians for Xie Guan’s eyes, and financial support.
• Xie Guan—whose choices are being simulated under the observer Yu Ke’s direction—refuses. He declares that Parasol Tree is like family, not a commodity for trading favors. This is the first major life choice triggered in the simulation.
• Renfeng had anticipated refusal and prepared a threatening message involving Parasol Tree’s sale contract, but Shilan ultimately decides not to deliver it. She leaves without the offered gifts. Relationships are strained, and Renfeng’s future resentment is hinted at.
• Afterward, Parasol Tree is moved to tears. Xie Guan comforts her and quietly asserts that their small household will improve: “Heaven never bars the way for a man!”
• Over the following months, Xie Guan’s eye condition gradually improves under Doctor Hua An’s care. He is allowed to wear thin white gauze instead of black cloth.
• As year’s end approaches, the Xie family’s young prodigy Xie Yu passes the county examination to become a xiucai (student scholar). This brings honor to the household, and every courtyard receives extra winter charcoal—an unexpected benefit for Xie Guan and Parasol Tree.
• A tutor is arranged for Xie Guan at home, with the promise that he may enter the clan school once he passes an assessment.
• Doctor Hua An visits and notices Xie Guan’s handwritten study notes in a copy of Holy Sayings, indicating that despite his blindness and late start, Xie Guan is already engaging deeply with Confucian classics and independent thought.

Character Developments

• Xie Guan: Shows growing maturity, dignity, and moral conviction. Despite being an isolated, unwanted illegitimate son, he refuses to trade away the one person loyal to him. He remains calm, resolute, and surprisingly scholarly, even while blind.
• Parasol Tree: Remains fiercely loyal, emotionally vulnerable yet practical. She has saved money, accepted kindness from the Fourth Young Lady, and supports Xie Guan wholeheartedly. Her joy at his recovery and his dignified conduct shows her hope for their future.
• Shilan: A dutiful messenger who softens despite her master’s harsh intentions. She shows a sliver of sympathy and does not crush Xie Guan with the full weight of Renfeng’s threat.
• Doctor Hua An: A kind but cautious physician. He is respectful toward Madam Yuan—whether sincerely or out of fear—and takes genuine interest in Xie Guan’s well-being and intellectual growth.

Significant Themes

• Dignity in poverty and powerlessness: Xie Guan’s refusal is a quiet assertion of self-respect and humanity in a household where he has no status.
• Loyalty and found family: The bond between master and servant transcends transaction. Xie Guan’s statement that Parasol Tree is family is a quiet rebellion against the brutal logic of clan politics.
• Social hierarchy and illegitimate birth: The chapter highlights the precarious position of an unwanted son and the casual commodification of servants.
• Education as the only way forward: In a world governed by Confucian cultivation, reading and scholarship are both salvation and a path to agency.
• Confucian moral philosophy vs. worldly pragmatism: Xie Guan’s annotated quotes, such as “To learn without thinking is to be lost,” suggest he is not just learning, but questioning and forming his own ethos.

Character Interactions

• Xie Guan & Shilan: A tense negotiation. Shilan offers everything Xie Guan allegedly needs; he refuses without hostility. Her final restraint leaves the door not completely shut.
• Xie Guan & Parasol Tree: Warm and intimate. She cries for him, worries over money, and chatters about small household matters; he reassures and gently jokes. Their relationship is the emotional heart of the chapter.
• Xie Guan & Hua An: A respectful doctor-patient bond. Hua An is moved by Xie Guan’s intelligence and notes his unusual annotations, hinting that Xie Guan’s mind may be the most promising thing about him.
  In the end, Xie Guan secures his own path for now—but at the cost of making an enemy of Xie Renfeng. The title’s encouragement, “No one is ever at the end of the road,” matches the chapter’s quiet note of hope amid hardship.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter:

Key Plot Points & Events

• Hua An’s Visit: Physician Hua An visits the small courtyard of Xie Guan (a blind young master of the Xie Clan). He notices that Xie Guan’s marginal annotations in books are perfectly neat—identical to printed text—despite being self-taught by imitating characters by moonlight.
• Teacher Issue: Xie Guan’s newly hired tutor, Cultivated Scholar Dong, left two massive books (over 70,000 characters, nearly 400,000 with annotations) and demanded memorization before returning. Parasol Tree believes this is deliberate sabotage, but Hua An explains Dong’s stubborn, principled nature—he had been dismissed from the clan school for punishing noble children.
• Worldbuilding Interlude: The narrative expands on Great Qi’s history: the imperial examinations, the Academy (two Masters over 1,200 years), the current Master’s four influential disciples, and the wider world (Buddhist Son, Tatars, Sui Dynasty, martial heroes).
• Xie Yuan’s Arrival: Xie Yuan, the arrogant “Cloud-Reclining Young Master” from the main courtyard, arrives with a troupe of performers. Hua An is wary, remembering Xie Yuan’s cruel past behavior (demanding a pregnant woman’s belly be cut open). Xie Yuan’s visit is likely ill-intentioned.

Character Developments

• Xie Guan: Portrayed as calm, wise beyond his years, filial, and self-taught. He shows no anger at the tutor’s unreasonable demand. He has acute hearing (compensating for blindness) and a diplomatic nature (politely flatters Hua An).
• Hua An: A competent but anxious clan physician. He admires Xie Guan’s steadiness and feels at ease in his presence, unlike with other nobles. He is cautious around Xie Yuan due to past trauma.
• Parasol Tree: Xie Guan’s loyal servant, indignant on his behalf, yet curious about clan gossip. She is protective and attentive.
• Xie Yuan (Cloud-Reclining Young Master): Introduced as spoiled, eccentric, and cruel. He spends his days on martial arts, bestows maids on beggars, and demands everyone address him by his self-styled title. He resembles the clan’s head, Xie Ling, and is favored by Old Madam Xie.

Significant Themes

• Learning and Self-Improvement: Xie Guan’s self-taught calligraphy and memorization efforts contrast with Xie Yuan’s disdain for books. The tale of Cultivated Scholar Dong highlights the tension between principled learning and aristocratic privilege.
• Social Hierarchy and Favor: The Xie Clan is divided into courtyards, with rivalry over status and the next generation’s success. Xie Guan’s awkward position (out-of-favor, blind) is underscored.
• Perception vs. Reality: Xie Guan’s blindness is compensated by hearing; appearances (Dong’s harshness, Xie Yuan’s romantic air) hide deeper truths.

Character Interactions

• Hua An & Xie Guan: Warm, respectful exchange. Hua An admires Xie Guan’s handwriting and character, feels comfortable, and shares clan gossip while also probing Xie Guan’s opinions (which are tactfully flattering).
• Parasol Tree & Hua An: She questions him about Dong and listens eagerly to clan intrigue, revealing her blend of loyalty and curiosity.
• Xie Yuan’s Entrance: Domineering and unsettling. Hua An’s immediate fear and Parasol Tree’s wariness set the tone for potential conflict. Xie Yuan’s greeting (“Physician Hua, you are here too”) suggests he has his own agenda.

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Xie Yuan (“Cloud-Reclining Young Master”) visits Xie Guan in his small courtyard after months away, asking about Guan’s eyes, which are still covered by black cloth.
• Xie Yuan brings extravagant gifts: Dragon-Phoenix Tribute Tea, roasted snacks, singing girls, and servants. He wastes the precious tea by brewing it casually, showing off his wealth and status.
• He offers to give Xie Guan a servant girl or servant. The servants panic, terrified of being sent to Guan’s poor, powerless household.
• Xie Guan politely refuses. Xie Yuan becomes hostile and threatens him, treating the refusal as an insult.
• Xie Guan avoids conflict by proposing a chess wager: best two out of three games.
  • If Xie Yuan wins, Guan will accept the servant.
  • If Guan wins, Xie Yuan must drop the matter and instead send two storytellers to read to Guan until his eyes recover.
• Xie Yuan agrees, impressed by Guan’s boldness. A dangerous confrontation becomes a game.
• At the end, Xie Yuan reads Commentary of the Four Kingdoms and declares Lu Chen (Lu Shenzhou) the greatest hero of the era, pointing to the “Annals of Lu Chen.”

2. Character Developments

• Xie Guan: Remains calm, composed, and strategic despite being blind and vulnerable. He neither bows to Xie Yuan’s pressure nor provokes him openly, instead using wit to protect his independence.
• Xie Yuan: Arrogant, impulsive, and quick to anger, but also appreciative of courage. He respects people who stand up to him and enjoys playing the role of a chivalrous “hero.”
• Hua An: Timid and anxious, fully aware of Xie Yuan’s violent reputation. He tries to warn Guan not to offend him.
• Parasol Tree: Quietly loyal and outraged at Xie Yuan’s cruel jokes about Guan’s blindness, but she hides her feelings.
• Servants and singing girls: Powerless and disposable, they show the harsh realities of household hierarchy.

3. Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: As an illegitimate son, Xie Guan must carefully navigate a household where the favored young master can threaten kin and treat servants as objects.
• Survival through wit: Xie Guan turns a direct confrontation into a chess match, using intellect to escape a situation where force and status would defeat him.
• Weakness as danger: Xie Yuan’s remarks show that the weak are mocked, exploited, or blamed for their circumstances.
• Heroism and legacy: The conversation about Lu Chen introduces ideals of courage, greatness, and admiration—themes that may shape Xie Guan’s future path.
• Honor and wagers: “A gentleman’s word” matters, and even the arrogant Xie Yuan respects the rules of a bet.

4. Character Interactions

• Xie Yuan dominates the room with loud, showy behavior; Xie Guan’s silence and stillness unsettle him.
• Xie Yuan tries to grab Xie Guan’s blindfold; Guan evades and calmly says, “Sixth Brother, don’t fool around.”
• Hua An stands awkwardly, afraid to sit, and secretly tugs Guan’s sleeve to warn him.
• Parasol Tree internally condemns Xie Yuan’s callousness while serving tea.
• Xie Yuan’s servants kneel and weep, begging not to be given away; Xie Yuan threatens them, highlighting their complete lack of agency.

Summary: "Calmness Within, Three Wins in Three Games"

Key Plot Points

• The chapter opens with a historical discussion about the Prince of Yan, a figure from the Yan Kingdom (one of four kingdoms in the Warring States period). Despite Great Zhou's campaign to erase Yan's history ("Burning the Books to Sever Yan"), the Prince of Yan's reputation has been rehabilitated over time through recovered texts and folk traditions.
• The central action shifts to a chess match between the protagonist (Xie Guan, blindfolded) and Xie Yuan ("Cloud-Reclining Young Master"), a hot-tempered noble who initially expects an easy victory.
• Xie Guan announces he will play blind chess (playing entirely from memory, without seeing the board), shocking Xie Yuan and all present. He reveals he has never studied chess manuals and only plays against himself or occasionally with his servant Parasol Tree.
• Xie Guan wins three consecutive games, each more decisively than the last. His speed and accuracy astound the spectators, who had initially mocked him.
• After the third loss, Xie Yuan, consumed by fury, overturns the chess table, scattering pieces everywhere, and storms out into the snow without his boots—his servants chasing after him.

Character Developments

• Xie Guan: Revealed to possess extraordinary composure ("calmness within") and formidable mental abilities. After losing his sight following his mother's death months ago, he endured immense grief but discovered inner peace through stillness—developing the ability to use "one mind for two purposes" and visualizing chess games internally. He is dignified, self-deprecating, and unshaken by victory.
• Xie Yuan: Displays his impatient, prideful nature. He starts dismissive and arrogant, progressively becomes desperate and unsettled as he loses, and finally loses his temper entirely—overturning the board and fleeing. His status as a "spoiled young noble" passionate about games (chess, cuju, singing, etc.) is established.
• Parasol Tree: Shows deep loyalty and concern for Xie Guan, recalling his difficult childhood attending to his dying mother, and silently praying for his success.
• Hua An: Serves as an observer, initially doubtful of Xie Guan's chances given his limited practice opportunities.

Significant Themes

• Calmness vs. impatience: Xie Guan's still, clear mind is contrasted sharply with Xie Yuan's agitation and fury. The "chessboard within the mind" metaphor emphasizes inner cultivation.
• Mastery through adversity: Xie Guan's blindness became the catalyst for developing extraordinary mental discipline rather than a limitation.
• Historical memory vs. official erasure: The Prince of Yan narrative explores how suppressed history can survive through folk tradition; the parallel between his resilience and Xie Guan's quiet perseverance is implicit.
• Humility vs. arrogance: Xie Guan's modest self-description ("laughable," playing only against himself) belies his actual strength, while Xie Yuan's confidence proves misplaced.

Character Interactions

• Xie Guan & Xie Yuan: Begin politely ("Brother Guan," "Sixth Brother") but progress into a tense rivalry. Xie Yuan's arrogance deflates with each loss until he snaps violently.
• Xie Yuan & his servants: He rules through fear—one glare silences their laughter; his tantrum sends servants scrambling in panic.
• Xie Guan & Parasol Tree: A master-servant bond marked by genuine care; she remembers his childhood hardships and worries for him.
• Spectators' reactions: The courtesans wish for Xie Guan's victory (so they won't be sent to him), while servants fear Xie Yuan's retaliation—a crowd torn between hopes and anxieties.

Chapter Summary: "The Lessons in Books, Listening to Stories in the Small Courtyard"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The Chess Match: Young Master Guan (the blind-folded protagonist) soundly defeats Xie Yuan (the "Cloud-Reclining Young Master") in three consecutive games of xiangqi. Xie Yuan loses his temper and storms off, spilling tea and scattering pieces, but honors his wager to send storytellers/readers to Guan's courtyard.
• Gifting the Tea Cake: After the match, Guan deliberately gives Hua An (an old physician) the half-finished cake of "Great Phoenix Tuan" tribute tea left by Xie Yuan—a rare treasure—and has it placed in Hua An's medicine chest. Hua An is deeply moved.
• Revelation of Sight: Alone at night, Guan removes the black cloth from his eyes, revealing bright, keen eyes—implying he is not truly blind or has some ability to see.
• The Wager Delivered: The next day, Xie Hou'er brings two retainers (Zhang Yuanlai and He Xiao) to read books aloud to Guan, fulfilling Xie Yuan's promise. Guan requests the Commentary of the Four Kingdoms, all forty-six volumes.
• Catching He Xiao Cheating: Scholar He Xiao tries to skip difficult passages to finish faster. Guan interrupts, citing a missing passage about Marquis Lingxiang as a logical inconsistency, exposing the skip. He Xiao hastily covers up, claiming it was a test of Guan's attentiveness.

2. Character Developments

• Young Master Guan: Reveals himself to be highly strategic—playing all three chess games to win was a calculated choice, not pride. He is a shrewd reader of human nature, deliberately cultivating relationships (e.g., with Hua An) for future utility. He also possesses an exceptional memory and scholarly knowledge, and conceals his ability to see behind cloth over his eyes.
• Parasol Tree: Grows more observant of her master's changed demeanor—calmer, steadier, and more "worldly-wise." She is loyal and curious, though somewhat naive about his deeper plans.
• Hua An: A neglected, aging physician who has long been treated as a mere servant by residents of Xie Manor. Guan's respect (used as a physician, honored as a guest) stirs deep gratitude and hope in him, making his loyalty all but secured.
• He Xiao: An opportunistic, cunning scholar who attempts to cut corners in his reading duties. He is wily enough to smooth over being caught face-to-face, but his competency and integrity are both implicitly questioned.
• Xie Hou'er: Shows a different side than the previous day—deeply capable, authoritative among the servants, and deferential to Guan. He keeps his master's word.

3. Significant Themes

• Strategic Relationship-Building: Guan's actions (gifting tea, praising Hua An) are not spontaneous kindness but calculated investments. The chapter compares this to the Qi Kingdom's historical practice of befriending weaker barbarian states to build power.
• The Balance of Concession and Assertion: Paradigm—"When cultivating goodwill with others, one must not yield everywhere." Guan wins the chess matches on purpose: too much deference would make him seem weak or servile, undermining his value as an ally.
• Books as Tools for Worldly Wisdom: Guan frames himself as learning "principles for dealing with the world" from reading—but the chapter hints he is drawing on much more than mere bookish knowledge.
• Secrecy and Hidden Identity: The removal of the blindfold in private indicates Guan is playing a long game of deception, hiding the full extent of his capabilities and intentions from the entire household.
• Class and Dignity in the Manor: Hua An's emotional response highlights the social hierarchy of the estate; Guan's one act of genuine respect yields him far more loyalty than pomp or favor ever could.

4. Character Interactions

• Guan vs. Xie Yuan: Clashing at the chessboard—Xie Yuan loses gracelessly but keeps his word. Guan's victory, paradoxically, is a move to secure respect rather than spite.
• Guan vs. Hua An: Guan treats the physician with studied courtesy (thanks, praise, tea gift), creating a strong emotional bond. Hua An leaves looking back at the courtyard, sensing something has changed.
• Guan vs. Parasol Tree: She directly questions his motives; he explains his reasoning in the metaphor of Qi Kingdom's rise. Their conversation reveals a profound trust—she notices his unveiled eyes but does not press.
• Guan vs. He Xiao: Guan forces He Xiao (mid-reading) to acknowledge his own negligence without raising his voice, using sheer erudition to correct a liar—unsettling and embarrassing He Xiao while preserving the fiction of courtesy.
• Xie Hou'er with Guan and the Scholars: Bridges the manors, demonstrating that Xie Yuan's favor carries real power and that Guan now has some standing within that sphere.

Summary of "The Academy of Great Qi, Never Forgetting What He Heard!"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Half a month passes with Zhang Yuanlai and He Xiao reading daily to Xie Guan (Young Master Guan), who rewards them generously. Zhang is a solid scholar familiar with the Imperial Academy, court offices, and classics; He Xiao is worldly, recounting Bianjing customs, courtesans, and tales of demons across the provinces.
• They explain the Academy's supreme status: founded by the Master, it has only four disciples and a dozen students. Its six-floor library holds classics and cultivation techniques (martial path and divine soul path). The Master subdued the demons that arose 1,500 years ago after Emperor Lie of Great Tang boiled the Crown Prince for his fox-woman consort, and later forced a Xuan Core Realm demon commander at Marsh Lake to take his own life.
• Political background revealed: The Master went overseas 200 years ago seeking immortals. His First Disciple left for Great Sui (a mortal enemy), the Second Disciple is gravely ill, the Third Disciple runs the Academy, and the Fourth Disciple, Su Jing, controls the court—resulting in discord between the Academy and the court.
• He Xiao tests the protagonist's memory with questions on history, geography, and astronomy; the protagonist answers flawlessly, reciting entire texts verbatim. Zhang Yuanlai is astonished, remarking that while others have "never-forgetting eyes," the protagonist has "never-forgetting ears."
• Another month passes; New Year approaches. Xie Manor is festive, and Second Master Xie Hong returns from Clear-Cool Temple, while Xie Yun (the protagonist's father) guards the border against Great Sui.
• The protagonist is excluded from the clan's New Year's Eve dinner, receiving only a meal in his small courtyard. He doesn't mind.
• Reading ends temporarily: Hua An advises keeping the blindfold on until after New Year. The arranged tutors either postpone or refuse to teach, but Zhang and He reassure Parasol Tree that the protagonist will easily pass next year's examination.
• Three days before New Year's Eve coincides with heavy snow. He Xiao invites Zhang to a brothel (West Phoenix Pavilion); Zhang declines. They encounter Xie Yuan, who is in a good mood and announces he wants to test new "brilliant tricks" against his younger brother again, dismissing book-learning as "vulgar."

2. Character Developments

• Xie Guan (the protagonist): Demonstrates an extraordinary eidetic/echoic memory—he can reproduce every text read to him verbatim and connect passages across classics. He is humble, calm, and witty (teasing that the two could blind themselves to gain such memory). He remains composed in the face of family neglect, finding contentment in his quiet life.
• Zhang Yuanlai: Feels awe and envy at the protagonist's gift. He is straight-laced and principled, declining brothel invitations.
• He Xiao: Rowdy and worldly, he enjoys brothels and teasing. He still harbors lingering skepticism about the protagonist's ability until it is proven. His casual speech reveals sensitive political information he perhaps shouldn't share.
• Xie Yuan: The older brother is competitive and condescending toward the protagonist's scholarship, preferring petty tricks and games to learning.
• Parasol Tree: Loyal and protective, she worries about her young master's education and exclusion from family events.

3. Significant Themes

• The sacred status of knowledge and the Academy: The Master is effectively a god-like figure; the Academy is the source of legitimacy for Great Qi itself, and scholarly achievement is the path to power and status.
• Family exclusion and found companionship: The protagonist is an outsider in his own clan, but finds meaning through study and the companionship of servants and hired readers.
• The gap between worldliness and scholarship: Xie Yuan's contempt for reading contrasts with the profound respect Zhang, He, and the wider world hold for the Master and the Academy.
• Memory, intelligence, and hidden potential: The protagonist's supernatural ability hints at a destiny beyond his current obscurity.
• Political tension beneath the surface: The Academy's internal divisions mirror the court-Academy conflict, and Great Sui is a looming threat.

4. Character Interactions

• Zhang and He with the protagonist: They teach him in an unprecedented way—by reading aloud. Their relationship evolves from hired tutors to impressed observers of his genius.
• He Xiao and Zhang Yuanlai: Close companions with contrasting personalities—He is licentious and jocular, Zhang is proper and restrained. Their banter about brothels provides comic relief.
• Xie Yuan with Zhang and He: He patronizingly asks about the protagonist's progress, dismisses his talent as "vulgar," and announces he intends to show off his own clever tricks—suggesting a rivalry between brothers.
• Parasol Tree: She serves as the protagonist's advocate, fretting over his education and being comforted by Zhang and He's reassurances.

Summary

Key Plot Points

• Xie Yuan (a young master of the Xie Clan) arrives at Xie Guan's humble courtyard with his cousin Zhang Yuzhi, along with retainers He Xiao and Zhang Yuanlai, intending a chess rematch after losing to Xie Guan previously.
• Zhang Yuzhi is visiting the Xie Manor for the New Year. She belongs to the powerful Zhuge and Zhang clans; her father is a strict official currently out of favor due to offending the influential Su Jing.
• Xie Yuan begins with a new, aggressive strategy and wins the first game. Xie Guan then deliberately imitates that strategy to win the second game, and secures the third with a tricky style.
• Conceding defeat, Xie Yuan humbly acknowledges Xie Guan’s skill and proposes a future contest based on memorizing texts, which Xie Guan accepts.
• The chapter ends as New Year’s Eve arrives, with Zhang Yuzhi taking special notice of Xie Guan before leaving.

Character Developments

• Xie Guan / the protagonist: Demonstrates strategic intelligence and social tact—he intentionally loses one game to preserve Xie Yuan’s dignity, then wins two to establish superiority, earning Xie Yuan’s genuine respect.
• Xie Yuan: Starts overconfident and competitive, but after losing fairly, shows graciousness and proposes friendly future rivalry, indicating maturity and goodwill.
• Zhang Yuzhi: Introduced as observant and perceptive; she quickly sees through the dynamics of the chess match and recognizes Xie Guan’s extraordinary nature despite his humble circumstances.
• Hua An and Parasol Tree: Secondary but significant—Hua An worries about Xie Yuan’s temper, while Parasol Tree serves loyally and sneers at Xie Yuan’s past behavior.

Significant Themes

• Social hierarchy and political power: The story emphasizes the dominance of the Nine Great Surnames, the entangling of marriage and politics, and the low status of illegitimate or servant-born children.
• Strategy and face: The chess match illustrates the importance of balancing victory with maintaining relationships—winning outright can create enemies, while calculated loss can build bonds.
• Merit versus birthright: Despite Xie Guan’s lowly origins and blindness, his intellect rivals that of privileged young masters.

Character Interactions

• He Xiao is infatuated with Zhang Yuzhi and behaves fawningly toward her; she barely acknowledges him, and her maid scorns him.
• Zhang Yuzhi questions how a Xie young master could live in such a crude place, leading to exposition about Xie Guan’s mother being a former maid who died, leaving him blind from grief.
• Xie Yuan is boisterous and friendly toward Xie Guan, treating him as a worthy opponent rather than a servant-born brother.
• Zhang Yuzhi silently studies Xie Guan throughout the match, developing initial curiosity and respect.

Outcome

The protagonist’s chosen approach—“lose one, win two”—successfully wins Xie Yuan’s friendship and likely secures beneficial future developments, while setting up a friendly rivalry for the coming year.

Chapter Summary: Whetstone, Dragons and Serpents Dancing Beneath the Brush!

1. Key Plot Points and Events

Part 1 — Madam Zhuge's POV

• Madam Zhuge (Xie Yuan's mother) waits all day in Xie Yuan's courtyard for her son to return, bringing him new winter clothes for New Year.
• She learns Xie Yuan visited Xie Guan (a concubine-born son living in the servants' quarters) in Cheng Courtyard.
• Xie Yuan played blindfold chess with Xie Guan and lost 2-1. Enraged and humiliated, he burned all his chessboards and vowed to study until spring to compete with Xie Guan again.
• Madam Zhuge realizes Xie Guan is a good influence and resolves to help Xie Guan gain a name/status in the manor, planning to use him as a "whetstone" for her lazy son.
• She notes her son's kind heart and decides not to interfere too much, but quietly begins making arrangements on Xie Guan's behalf.

Part 2 — Xie Guan's POV (New Year's Eve)

• Xie Guan rests in his small courtyard while Parasol Tree (his servant) cooks New Year dishes.
• He reads books sent by Steward Wu from the Academy, including Xu Xian's Travelogue, a famous work by the Master's eldest disciple (First Teacher) that records his adventures across the world and famous historical events.
• The travelogue details the Xie Clan's history: originally a minor clan from Jiangnan, revived by his great-great-grandfather, rising to become a top aristocratic house through military merit.
• Key revelation: Xie Guan's father is Xie Ling, Marquis Dingyuan — a legendary "heaven-blessed prodigy" and peerless cultivator unmatched among his peers, holding immense power.
• Xie Guan reflects with cold bitterness that this great father never once visited him; his mother was humiliated, fell sick, and died abandoned — the father never appeared.
• In a rare outburst of emotion, he writes "Xie Manor," "Xie Ling," and "heaven-blessed prodigy" on paper — the characters seem to writhe like dragons and serpents.
• Climax: The prompt reveals "All Fate-Pattern talents of this lifetime have awakened" — Xie Guan's innate supernatural abilities have just activated.

2. Character Developments

• Xie Guan: Begins as a calm, intellectual figure who has deeply absorbed classical texts. His reading reveals profound intelligence and self-education despite being denied formal schooling. The chapter exposes his suppressed, simmering resentment toward his father Xie Ling — cold, quiet, yet visceral enough that his writing seems to animate with power. His Fate-Pattern talents awaken at the end, marking a turning point in his path.
• Madam Zhuge: Portrayed as a doting, pragmatic mother of a noble house. She is warm toward her son but not indulgent, deliberately allowing him to experience setbacks and learn from them. Her decision to elevate Xie Guan is strategic but not cruel — she genuinely feels goodwill toward him and recognizes his worth, though she views him partly as a tool for her son's development.
• Xie Yuan: Though seen only through others' reports, he develops from a lazy, chess-obsessed youth into someone fiercely motivated to study — his pride wounded, he channels it into discipline. Madam Zhuge's "whetstone" plan turns his humility into an engine for growth.
• Parasol Tree: Quietly devoted; a loyal, capable servant who learned to cook by secretly watching the kitchen staff and drives Xie Guan out of the kitchen with gentleness.
• Xie Ling (mentioned/absent): Established as the dominant shadow over Xie Guan's life — a military marquis, supreme cultivator, and absent father whose neglect defined his son's suffering.

3. Significant Themes

• The Whetstone / Instruments of Growth: Madam Zhuge explicitly frames Xie Guan as a whetstone to sharpen her son. But the chapter subtly reverses this — the legitimate son's loss also serves Xie Guan by giving him purpose, connection, and eventually a path forward. People sharpen each other regardless of intent.
• Absent Fathers / Abandonment vs. Filial Piety: Contrasts Xie Yuan's fortunate relationship with his watchful mother against Xie Guan's total abandonment by his famed father. Xie Guan has a father who is a legend and nothing else. The theme of filial piety (Xie Yuan's determination to honor his mother; Xie Guan's nameless longing) runs throughout.
• Name and Status: Madam Zhuge's observation — "A person is like duckweed; with a name comes a shadow" — is central. Xie Guan is a shadow without a name. His father gave him neither.
• Learning as Liberation: Xie Guan's self-education shows reading as survival and quiet defiance. His knowledge of the classics by heart contrasts with his official status as an uneducated illegitimate child.
• Hidden Power / The Sleeping Dragon: The imagery of dragons and serpents dancing beneath the brush foreshadows Xie Guan's latent, extraordinary potential. The final line, "All Fate-Pattern talents of this lifetime have awakened," signals that what the world dismissed is about to be revealed.

4. Character Interactions

• Madam Zhuge ↔ Servants: She interrogates servants about Xie Yuan's behavior, showing both her authority and her careful, indirect management of the household. She rewards good news, demonstrating a benevolent but calculating hand.
• Madam Zhuge ↔ Xie Yuan (reported, offscreen): Their relationship is warm; her pride in him and her protective instincts shape her decisions. She deliberately backs off so as not to "spoil his crimson heart."
• Xie Guan ↔ Parasol Tree: Domestic and affectionate. She dotes on him, worries about his eyes, and drives him away from kitchen work with the respectful joke about gentlemen and kitchens — a small pocket of warmth in his cold life.
• Xie Guan ↔ The Book (Xu Xian's Travelogue): A notable interaction with the text itself. He recognizes the book was likely confiscated from some student, reads Xu Xian's story of leaving a ruined home and finding the Master, and relates it to his own situation. The travelogue connects him to the larger world of cultivation, history, and the legends surrounding his father's clan.
• Xie Guan ↔ Xie Ling (emotional, implicit): The chapter's charged interaction is non-face-to-face — Xie Guan confronting the written name of his father. The characters writhing on the page and the awakening of his Fate-Pattern talents suggest this suppressed fury is the trigger for his power's activation.

Summary: "Marriage into Wife's Family, Ten-Year Simulation Ends"

1. Key Plot Points

• New Year's Eve at Xie Manor: The protagonist (Xie Guan) receives lavish food gifts from Old Madam Xie and—unusually—from Madam Zhuge of the Second Courtyard. A maid's disdain for the small courtyard's meager tips highlights his low status. Xie Yuan visits with servants, awkwardly testing his wits.
• Dew Bud's Visit and Reveals: Xie Ying's maid visits and delivers food. She shares two pieces of news: (a) the kind Fourth Miss Xie Ying is being married off to Military Commissioner Sima Ting of Jiannan Circuit, and (b) Madam Yuan plans to have Xie Guan marry into the powerful Zhao Clan. Parasol Tree is devastated—as a "married-into-wife's-family" man, Xie Guan would be barred from imperial exams, have low status, and could be cast out.
• Protagonist's Reveal: Having overheard everything (his hearing sharpened during his blindness), Xie Guan calmly removes his white eye-veil, revealing his recovery. He dismisses the threat, noting it can only happen after his coming-of-age ceremony at fourteen.
• Tutor Visits: On the seventh day of the first month, Zhang Yuanlai (Xie Yuan's tutor) visits to befriend the protagonist. Later, Dong Shao (the manor's elementary tutor) tests Xie Guan's memorized classics, is astonished by his flawless answers, and leaves more texts plus a hand-copied calligraphy copybook. Zhang Yuanlai reveals Dong Shao was once nearly a disciple of Xie Manor's Second Master.
• Full Recovery and Rising Reputation: On the seventeenth day of the first month, Physician Hua An declares Xie Guan's eyes fully healed. His intelligence becomes gossip throughout the manor; Xie Yuan repeatedly challenges him and loses.
• Climactic Event: In April, Xie Guan's biological father, Marquis Dingyuan, is crushingly defeated by the Sui Army at the border and returns in disgrace. The angry court strips him of his marquisate. Consequently, the examination Madam Yuan had arranged for Xie Guan is postponed by this "world-shaking event."

2. Character Developments

• Xie Guan (protagonist): Demonstrates exceptional composure, patience, and strategic thinking. He has secretly been memorizing classical texts and planning his rise ("A gentleman conceals his tools within himself, waiting for the time to act"). Fully restored eyesight combines with a sharp intellect, marking the end of his passive vulnerability. He shows magnanimity, even viewing the cold-shouldering of servants as instructive rather than hurtful.
• Parasol Tree: Loyal and protective, she acts as his emotional barometer. Her despair at the marriage-into-family threat reveals her deep care, while her anger at the manor's bullying shows her fiercely defiant love for her master.
• Zhang Yuanlai: Emerges as a genuine ally, proactively seeking friendship and showing intellectual respect despite his low-ranking status.
• Dong Shao: Initially perfunctory, his rigorous testing reveals a serious, knowledgeable scholar. Impressed by Xie Guan's brilliance, he upgrades his instruction—a crucial turning point that gives the protagonist formal educational momentum.
• Xie Yuan: The spoiled rival repeatedly suffers humiliating defeats in learning contests, undermining his arrogance.
• Antagonists (Madam Yuan, elders): Their schemes (arranged exams, marriage into the Zhao Clan) represent institutional oppression, yet external events (the father's defeat) temporarily derail their plans.

3. Significant Themes

• The Coldness of Human Relations: Servants fawn on the powerful and disdain the weak; Parasol Tree's outrage contrasts with Xie Guan's philosophical acceptance that such awareness is "not necessarily a bad thing."
• Stigma of Marriage into a Wife's Family: The chapter dramatizes the social horror of 入赘 (uxorilocal marriage)—loss of exam rights, property, status, and even paternal rights over one's children.
• Concealment and Strategic Patience: Xie Guan's inner preparation contrasts with his outward quietism. He waits for the right moment rather than resisting futilely.
• Learning as Redemption: Scholarship is the only viable path for an impoverished, disfavored young nobleman; the tutors' recognition is a critical step toward social mobility.
• Family as a Political Arena: Gifts, favors, and rivalries within the mansion mirror court politics; the father's military disaster demonstrates how external power shifts reshape internal hierarchies.

4. Character Interactions

• Parasol Tree & Dew Bud: An intimate conversation between sworn-sister servants reveals both threats (marriage into the Zhao Clan, Xie Ying's wedding) and shared melancholy about the manor's cruelty. Dew Bud's departure highlights the loneliness of both women.
• Xie Guan & Zhang Yuanlai: A warm, intellectual rapport. Zhang's candid self-deprecation (unmarried at thirty, expensive Bianjing) and gossip about He Xiao (spending the festival at a brothel) build trust and information exchange.
• Xie Guan & Dong Shao: A formal testing performed with cold efficiency, but Dong Shao's "surprise" and decision to leave a personal copybook signal a shift from obligation to genuine investment in the boy's education.
• The Rivalry with Xie Yuan: Described in brief but decisive terms—Xie Yuan repeatedly "returned defeated with singed feathers," cementing the protagonist's intellectual victory.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Ke completes his morning cultivation and assesses his progress: all acupoints open, Divine Heaven Point broken, but he still needs Foundation Establishment to form true essence and use Dao arts.
• He tests the Forbidden Character Formula (a Dao art from the jade talisman in his Lower Elixir Field) on a falling pear blossom—it has no effect on dead objects.
• He discovers the formula's mechanics: it can only target living beings, uses no spiritual energy at the moment of casting, but has a daily cooldown after two uses (it drains spiritual energy slowly from his elixir field to recharge).
• Yu Ke notices the miraculous bird from Cai Yingzhao's legend and wisely decides not to provoke it (believing it to be a True Spirit, far beyond his strength).
• Chen Jingqiu, the mysterious neighbor, opens a third eye on his forehead and scans the courtyard, appearing astonished by something (likely the bird's panicked reaction to the Forbidden Character Formula).
• Yu Ke contacts Mi Die from the Good Fortune Merchant Association to arrange moving into his cave abode for Foundation Establishment.
• He receives three recalled messages from Mi Die (a running gag about message recalls).
• Chen Jingqiu, Xie Wanwan, and Wang Yunxi arrive; Chen Jingqiu has gifted Xie Wanwan magical treasures for the Hidden Immortal Land trial. They all travel together to the East Courtyard in Chen Jingqiu's lavish carriage.
• The mysterious Mingzhu (the mermaid imperial princess from the previous chapter) is revealed to be Chen Jingqiu's carriage driver.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Shows caution and common sense (avoiding the True Spirit bird), pragmatism (using a "costless" Dao art), and focus on Foundation Establishment. His comprehension of the Juntian Sword Art has improved significantly since his cultivation increased.
• Chen Jingqiu: Revealed to be even more mysterious—he possesses a powerful third eye, seems to sense extraordinary things (the Celestial Dipper Divine Ability), and is conspicuously generous toward Xie Wanwan. His true identity and motives remain unclear.
• Xie Wanwan: Preparing seriously for the Hidden Immortal Land trial, gathering resources and treasures.
• Wang Yunxi: Clearly jealous of Chen Jingqiu's attention toward Xie Wanwan, hinting at romantic feelings for her cousin.

3. Significant Themes

• Cultivation progression: The urgent need for Foundation Establishment as the next major milestone.
• Preparation for trials: The Hidden Immortal Land trial looms, with characters accumulating resources and weapons for survival.
• Power and caution: Yu Ke's restraint (avoiding the spirit bird) contrasts with his growing abilities; the Forbidden Character Formula is a potent but limited tool.
• Mystery: Chen Jingqiu's true nature, the "Celestial Dipper Divine Ability" the bird recognizes, and the third eye all deepen the air of intrigue.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke & the miraculous bird: The bird panics after Yu Ke uses the Forbidden Character Formula, recognizing the lost "Celestial Dipper Divine Ability." Yu Ke is oblivious to this.
• Chen Jingqiu & Yu Ke: Friendly but formal; Chen Jingqiu invites Yu Ke to travel together, showing goodwill (or perhaps keeping an eye on him).
• Chen Jingqiu & Xie Wanwan: Transactional friendship; he generously trades treasures with her, earning her gratitude.
• Wang Yunxi & Chen Jingqiu: Tension born of jealousy; her cold snort and resentment are obvious.
• Yu Ke & the Thunder Marsh White Tiger: The tiger (a male) inexplicably takes a liking to Yu Ke, noted as preferring "young, handsome male cultivators."
• Yu Ke & Mi Die: Brief, polite exchange via communication jade talisman; Mi Die offers Foundation Establishment guardians, which Yu Ke declines.
• Mingzhu: Silent but present, serves as the carriage driver, demonstrating her subservient role to Chen Jingqiu.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Ke, Chen Jingqiu, Xie Wanwan, and Wang Yunxi travel through the Divine Firmament Sect’s East Courtyard in a carriage pulled by a Thunder Marsh White Tiger, attracting envious stares.
• Chen Jingqiu contrasts the Divine Firmament Sect’s humane treatment of disciples with other sects: the Lotus Leaf Sect enslaves non-human disciples (leading to the Demon Emperor’s rebellion), the Pill Cauldron Dao Sect tests medicine on mortals, and demonic sects refine souls.
• He reveals the Divine Firmament Sect’s founding patriarch was mysterious, possibly from a lower realm, with only his disciple Yunxiao (origin of the Supreme Purity Lineage) known.
• Chen explains that ascension between realms was sealed in Sui Antiquity after foreign demons invaded via Ascension Platforms.
• The group arrives at the Good Fortune Merchant Association to move into Yu Ke’s rented cave dwelling. The steward reports their arrival to the proprietress, Liu Xing, and her companion Xia Youlan (the Second Miss from Drunken River Moon), who recognize Chen Jingqiu and are notably intrigued by Yu Ke’s name.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Demonstrates a reflective, world-weary mindset (comparing the carriage spectacle to sports cars in his past life). He is deeply shocked by the news about the patriarch and sealed ascension but quickly calms himself using the Kun Void Cauldron, indicating hidden depths and a connection to these mysteries.
• Chen Jingqiu: Acts as the group’s guide and historian, showing broad knowledge of the Three Continents and sect lore. His tone is approving of the Divine Firmament Sect’s unique principles.
• Xie Wanwan and Wang Yunxi: Serve as curious listeners, asking questions that advance the exposition; their reactions highlight the unusual nature of the sect’s rules.
• Liu Xing & Xia Youlan: The merchant proprietresses are shrewd and attentive to powerful guests. Xia Youlan’s strong reaction to Yu Ke’s name hints at prior knowledge or importance.

3. Significant Themes

• Moral contrast between sects: The Divine Firmament Sect is portrayed as compassionate and just compared to the cruel, exploitative practices of other cultivation powers.
• Vanity and social status: The carriage spectacle draws envy, prompting Yu Ke’s reflection on the universality of vanity across worlds.
• Cosmic mystery and lost ascension: The patriarch’s lower-realm origin and the sealing of ascension paths foreshadow deeper secrets, likely tied to Yu Ke’s own origins.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke and Chen Jingqiu discuss sect history through a question-and-answer exchange, with Xie Wanwan and Wang Yunxi interjecting.
• The group interacts politely with the merchant steward, who then privately reports to Liu Xing.
• Liu Xing and Xia Youlan converse, connecting Chen Jingqiu’s identity and showing particular interest in Yu Ke, setting up future plot threads.

Chapter Summary: Two Women's Invitation at the Merchant Association

Key Plot Points & Events

• Yu Ke, Chen Jingqiu, Xie Wanwan, and Wang Yunxi visit the Good Fortune Merchant Association's third floor to buy items for the Hidden Immortal Land/trial preparations (Boundary-Stabilizing Pearls, World-Breaking Talismans)
• Liu Xing (head of the Good Fortune Merchant Association) and Xia Youlan (proprietor of Drunken River Moon) observe the group from a private room; Xia Youlan has an intense reaction upon seeing Yu Ke
• Liu Xing invites Chen Jingqiu and his companions to the sixth floor; when Chen Jingqiu defers to Yu Ke's opinion, Yu Ke accepts on the group's behalf
• Ding Zhao (an Inner Sect disciple) and Pang He encounter the group; Ding Zhao is coldly snubbed by Liu Xing, who only speaks to Chen Jingqiu's party
• Xia Youlan unexpectedly invites Pang He to stay for a chat, deliberately causing friction between Pang He and Ding Zhao, who leaves in anger
• Mi Die (the attendant from the previous chapter) sees Yu Ke being honored by Liu Xing, leaving her with a quiet sense of loss and awareness of their growing social distance

Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Remains calm, observant, and unassuming despite the attention; shows good social instincts by not offending Liu Xing
• Chen Jingqiu: Demonstrates respect for Yu Ke by consulting him before accepting Liu Xing's invitation; revealed to be widely known and respected (Eastern Sea Water Seal, Dragon Clan connections)
• Xia Youlan: Emotionally unsettled by Yu Ke; her grandmother's Jade Pixiu (fortune-gathering artifact) shattered upon meeting him, signifying he is "the most precious person" of her life—she is torn between fascination and confusion
• Pang He: Exposed as a sycophant toadying to Xia Youlan; his eagerness causes him to unwittingly offend Ding Zhao
• Ding Zhao: Proud Inner Sect disciple whose dignity is wounded by being ignored; grows resentful
• Mi Die: Experiences a quiet realization that Yu Ke's world is beyond her reach

Significant Themes

• Social hierarchy and "face": The careful game of status, snubs, and public honor in sect politics
• Fate/destiny: The Jade Pixiu prophecy—its shattering implies Yu Ke is someone extraordinary destined to surpass even the artifact's protective powers
• Hidden depths of the Outer Sect: Emphasized that the Outer Sect contains hidden talents; even Liu Xing acknowledges Yu Ke may be secretly remarkable
• Foreshadowing: Xia Youlan's emotional investment in Yu Ke, Chen Jingqiu's deference, and the mystery of Yu Ke's true identity are all building threads

Character Interactions

• Liu Xing & Xia Youlan: Close female friends navigating clan politics; Liu Xing reads Xia Youlan's reaction to Yu Ke and suppresses her own curiosity to avoid overstepping
• Chen Jingqiu & Yu Ke: Chen treats Yu Ke as an equal worthy of consultation, a notable sign of respect
• Xia Youlan & Pang He: She exploits Pang He's obvious infatuation to sow discord, revealing a manipulative streak
• Ding Zhao & Pang He: Their fragile alliance fractures as Xia Youlan's favor drives a wedge between them
• Yu Ke & Mi Die: Warm but brief interaction; Mi Die's unspoken feelings highlight the growing distance between them

Summary: Chapter – "Parting on Bad Terms, News of Zhou Liang!"

1. Key Plot Points & Events

• Yu Ke, Chen Jingqiu, Xie Wanwan, Wang Yunxi, and Pang He visit the Good Fortune Merchant Association, where hosts Liu Xing and Xia Youlan serve rare Blood Tea.
• Conversation turns to the East Sea, with Chen Jingqiu hinting at deep connections there; Yu Ke humors him.
• Chen Jingqiu deliberately humiliates Pang He by questioning their familiarity, and Yu Ke repeats it, backing Chen.
• Xia Youlan unexpectedly defends Pang He, forcing Yu Ke to apologize to keep the peace.
• Chen Jingqiu grows cold at Yu Ke's apology, souring the mood; Xie Wanwan and Wang Yunxi silently side with Yu Ke.
• A messenger from Inner Sect True Disciple Lan Yu arrives: Li Qingshui's communication talismans were damaged, but Zhou Liang and his group are safe. Lan Yu sends Yu Ke a token to freely visit Water Manifestation Peak.
• Yu Ke realizes he now holds two such tokens (Li Qingshui's and Lan Yu's), boosting his status.
• The group departs on bad terms; Pang He is left resentful. Liu Xing questions Xia Youlan's unusual hostility.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Ke: Shows restraint by apologizing to avoid conflict; is visibly relieved by news of Zhou Liang's safety. He gains valuable connections without actively seeking them.
• Chen Jingqiu: Reveals his influential background and his willingness to defend Yu Ke; when his help is "wasted", he exposes a colder, more prideful side.
• Pang He: Embarrassed and humiliated, he becomes jealous and bitter toward Yu Ke, especially after seeing the Water Manifestation Peak token.
• Xia Youlan: Displays open antagonism toward Yu Ke, defending Pang He and hinting at a grudge (likely the shattering of the Pixiu statue).
• Liu Xing: Acts as a mediator; reassesses Yu Ke’s potential upon learning of his connections with Chen Jingqiu, Li Qingshui, and Lan Yu.
• Xie Wanwan: Shows loyalty to Yu Ke, and is pleasantly surprised by his hidden connections.

3. Significant Themes

• Social hierarchy and connections: In the cultivation world, status is heavily influenced by who you know; the tokens and relationships elevate Yu Ke's standing.
• Face and humiliation: Public apologies and subtle put-downs are used as tools of social control; the mood shifts drastically over perceived disrespect.
• Luck vs. merit: Yu Ke’s rise seems partly due to fortunate acquaintances, yet his calm, cautious attitude earns him these favors.
• Suspicion and unresolved conflict: Xia Youlan’s distrust hints at future complications; the "bad terms" of the parting foreshadow ongoing tension.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Ke & Chen Jingqiu: Chen actively protects and elevates Yu Ke, but is annoyed when Yu Ke backs down.
• Chen Jingqiu & Pang He: Chen coldly dismisses Pang He’s attempts to be familiar, sparking the conflict.
• Yu Ke & Pang He: A brief exchange turns sour; Yu Ke’s mockery and apology only deepen Pang He’s resentment.
• Xia Youlan & Yu Ke: She openly criticizes him and sides with Pang He, revealing concealed ill will.
• Liu Xing & Xia Youlan: Liu Xing tries to smooth over Xia Youlan’s misstep and questions her judgment afterward.
• Yu Ke & Lan Yu’s messenger: A brief but crucial interaction delivers the news of Zhou Liang and grants Yu Ke the Water Manifestation Peak token.