Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• As autumn arrives, Su Li prepares to leave the Crown Prince’s Residence. Qian Renxue asks him to stay for the night; their parting turns intimate, and she jokingly says that if they become enemies, she’ll defeat him and keep him for herself.
• The next morning, Qian Renxue finds Su Li gone, with a letter left behind. Though disappointed, she accepts his departure and warns him not to return with too many new girlfriends.
• At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Su Li says farewell to the six girls and expects to return within half a year, in time for the qualifiers. He asks Ning Rongrong to look after the others, especially Ning Ling’er and Xiao Wu.
• The girls each say goodbye in their own way: Xiao Wu clings to him, Ning Rongrong tenderly straightens his clothes, Dugu Yan kisses him, and Zhu Zhuqing promises to give herself to him when he returns.
• Ye Lingling, who has kept her feelings quiet, asks Su Li to come back safely and waits for a kiss. Their kiss breaks through her emotional reserve—and her cultivation advances. She tells him that by the time he returns, she will have “figured it out.”

Character developments and interactions

• Qian Renxue reveals how attached she has become to Su Li, despite teasing him about their possible future rivalry.
• Ning Rongrong appears more mature and caring than before, taking responsibility for the others.
• Xiao Wu is openly distressed at Su Li’s departure, while Dugu Yan uses flirtatious teasing to mask her affection.
• Zhu Zhuqing is more direct about her feelings and makes a promise for his return.
• Ye Lingling finally acts on feelings she has kept hidden; the kiss marks a personal and spiritual breakthrough.
• Su Li’s farewells show the close, affectionate—and often teasing—bonds he has formed with the girls.

Significant themes

• Parting and attachment: Su Li’s departure affects everyone, even those who express their feelings through jokes or restraint.
• Emotional growth: Several girls show greater confidence, maturity, or openness in how they relate to him.
• Love and rivalry: Affection is mixed with playful possessiveness and competition, while the group’s bonds remain supportive.
• Personal breakthrough: Ye Lingling’s first kiss becomes a turning point, linking emotional honesty with growth in cultivation.

Plot points and events

• Ning Ling’er insists on accompanying Su Li to the Far North. When he hesitates because of the danger, she kisses and clings to him until he agrees.
• Su Li tells her to meet him at the academy’s north gate, then leaves. Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan arrive afterward and realize Ning Ling’er has gone with him.
• During the journey, Ning Ling’er keeps trying to kiss Su Li. He makes her sit still and behave so he can study, though he privately jokes about teaching her a lesson in human society.
• After two or three days, they reach a city near the Far North. Su Li takes the hungry, curious Ning Ling’er to an inn.
• Two sisters, Shui Bing’er and Shui Yue’er, arrive at the same inn. Bing’er says she came because she thought she saw a friend. Yue’er suspects the friend matters deeply to her—and is troubled that Bing’er may also have feelings for Su Li.

Character developments

• Ning Ling’er shows growing attachment to Su Li and newfound romantic curiosity. Her desire to travel with him—and her enthusiasm for kissing—overcome her earlier uncertainty and restraint.
• Su Li gives in to Ning Ling’er’s request despite recognizing the risks of bringing her to the Far North. He tries to keep her under control while remaining protective.
• Shui Yue’er reveals jealousy and possessiveness: she believes Su Li is hers and resents the possibility that her sister shares her feelings.
• Shui Bing’er is introduced as someone who may have a significant connection to Su Li.

Themes

• Attachment and romantic awakening: Ning Ling’er is discovering human intimacy and becoming increasingly devoted to Su Li.
• Jealousy and rivalry: Yue’er’s thoughts establish tension between the sisters over their feelings for the same person.
• Beauty and attention: Su Li worries that Ning Ling’er’s striking appearance will attract trouble.
• Departure and change: Su Li leaves the academy behind and heads toward a dangerous new region with Ning Ling’er.

Character interactions

• Ning Ling’er persuades Su Li to take her along through affection and persistence; he alternates between indulging her and telling her to behave.
• Su Li and Ning Ling’er travel together as an increasingly intimate pair, with him guiding her through her first experience of the snowy northern city.
• Bing’er and Yue’er arrive together, but Yue’er’s private jealousy contrasts with Bing’er’s unexplained eagerness to find her “friend.”

Plot and events

• Shui Bing’er and her half-sister Shui Yue’er go to an inn to find Su Li. Yue’er teases Bing’er about her unusual nervousness, prompting Bing’er to insist they are only ordinary friends.
• Inside, Su Li shares a meal with Ning Ling’er, who feeds him and clings to him protectively. The sisters walk in on the intimate scene: Bing’er is unsettled but determined to approach Su Li, while Yue’er is shocked that he already appears to have a girlfriend.
• Ning Ling’er misreads the sisters’ intentions and warns them not to get close to Su Li. Bing’er initially mistakes Ling’er for Ning Rongrong, then realizes they are different people and is relieved.
• With a crowd gathering to watch the apparent rivalry, Su Li takes everyone upstairs to his suite.
• Yue’er introduces herself to Su Li and invites him to stay at Skywater Academy, a girls’ school. Bing’er, after initially hesitating, recognizes that bringing him there could work to her advantage.

Character developments and interactions

• Shui Bing’er moves past her shyness and decides to approach Su Li despite seeing him with another woman. Her jealousy and insecurity surface, especially when she notices Ling’er’s figure, but she regains her composure.
• Shui Yue’er goes from curiosity to immediate attraction upon meeting Su Li. She is openly flirtatious and proposes bringing him to the academy.
• Ning Ling’er is affectionate and playful with Su Li, but becomes possessive and suspicious when the sisters appear, positioning herself as his protector.
• Su Li handles the escalating attention with amused resignation. Meeting Yue’er stirs memories of a recurring pattern in his past pursuits of the sisters, in which one would interrupt his progress with the other.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Both sisters are drawn to Su Li, while Ning Ling’er guards her place beside him.
• Comic misunderstandings: Ling’er’s mistaken assumptions, Bing’er’s confusion over her identity, and the crowd’s interpretation of the scene fuel the humor.
• Familiar patterns and déjà vu: Su Li recalls a repeated dynamic in his past interactions with the sisters, suggesting their romantic entanglements may follow a familiar cycle.

Plot points and events

• Ning Ling’er initially refuses to let Su Li go with Shui Bing’er and Shui Yue’er, fearing they will mistreat him.
• Shui Bing’er persuades her with promises of excellent food and frames the visit as a chance to spar and exchange pointers. Ning Ling’er gives in, and Su Li agrees to go.
• At Skywater Academy, Shui Yue’er eagerly escorts Su Li inside, while Ning Ling’er stays protective and objects when Yue’er links arms with him.
• The group passes the girls’ dormitories, where several students react with surprise and excitement at seeing a man. Ning Ling’er covers Su Li’s eyes, and the growing crowd of admirers presses around him.
• Shui Bing’er cools the crowd with her presence, calls Su Li her friend, and leads him away to meet their teacher. The girls tease her for acting possessive and speculate that Su Li is her boyfriend.

Character developments

• Ning Ling’er remains fiercely protective of Su Li, but her curiosity about the academy’s food wins out. She continues to guard him once they arrive.
• Shui Yue’er becomes increasingly infatuated and competitive, imagining she can win Su Li over quickly. She is disappointed when other girls show interest in him.
• Shui Bing’er is perceptive about her sister’s feelings and appears to be developing feelings of her own. She responds by taking a more protective, possessive role.
• Su Li goes along with the visit and is startled by the academy’s enthusiastic attention.

Significant themes

• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: The sisters’ interest in Su Li, Ning Ling’er’s protectiveness, and the other students’ excitement create comic competition.
• Naivety and persuasion: Ning Ling’er’s appetite makes her easier to convince, despite her suspicions.
• Possessiveness and public attention: Su Li becomes the focus of attention, prompting several characters to stake subtle claims over him.

Character interactions

• Ning Ling’er challenges Shui Yue’er’s closeness to Su Li and shields him from the other students’ gaze.
• Shui Yue’er tries to draw Su Li close, while privately plotting to win him before her sister does.
• Shui Bing’er watches Yue’er closely, then takes Su Li by the hand and removes him from the crowd.
• The academy girls flirt and tease Shui Bing’er, interpreting her protective behavior as evidence of romance.

Plot points and events

• Shui Bing’er leads Su Li to his room at Skywater Academy, holding his hand throughout. Her sister, Shui Yue’er, notices and teases her, forcing Bing’er to claim she simply forgot to let go.
• Ning Ling’er is given the room beside Su Li’s. She privately plans to sneak into his room later, while Su Li is pleased to have her deter the many girls who approach him.
• Su Li visits the academy’s head and teachers, then spars with the Skywater Team and defeats them easily. His growing audience of admirers overwhelms him until evening.
• That night, Yue’er is caught outside Su Li’s door but escapes embarrassment when Bing’er asks her to fetch Ning Ling’er. Once Yue’er leaves, Bing’er uses a key to enter Su Li’s room and hides under his covers.
• After bathing, Su Li returns expecting Ning Ling’er and discovers Bing’er instead. She tells him she loves him.

Character developments

• Shui Bing’er moves from shy longing to decisive action, choosing to risk rejection rather than miss her chance with Su Li.
• Shui Yue’er is jealous of her sister’s closeness to Su Li and appears interested in him herself, though she is embarrassed when caught at his door.
• Ning Ling’er acts possessively toward Su Li’s admirers and privately intends to visit him, showing both attachment and a scheming streak.
• Su Li remains calm amid attention from the academy’s girls, but enjoys being protected from their advances and privately admits his attraction to the sisters.

Significant themes

• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: The sisters and Ning Ling’er compete, openly or secretly, for Su Li’s attention.
• Boldness versus hesitation: Bing’er decides that risking rejection is better than waiting and losing her opportunity.
• Comic misunderstandings and concealed intentions: Characters disguise their motives, while their actions—especially Yue’er at the door and Bing’er under the covers—expose them.

Character interactions

• Yue’er teases Bing’er about holding Su Li’s hand, while Bing’er tries to hide her feelings.
• Ning Ling’er shields Su Li from admirers and plans to approach him privately.
• Bing’er and Yue’er each make a move toward Su Li that night, but Bing’er reaches his room first.
• Su Li’s mistaken assumption that the person in his bed is Ning Ling’er leads to his surprise when he finds Bing’er and hears her confession.