Ch. 101Old Man! Pay Up!
Chapter Summary: Old Man! Pay Up!
Key Plot Points and Events
- Jiang Bai arrives in Mingdu and is brought by Meng Hongchen to meet her grandfather, Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.
- Meng asks Jing Hongchen for money so she can take Jiang Bai shopping, prompting the chapter’s humorous title and establishing her confident, informal relationship with her grandfather.
- Jing Hongchen gently questions Jiang Bai about his reasons for coming to the Sun Moon Empire. Jiang explains that he is there to train and purchase Soul Tools, though he complains that Mingdu’s black market is exploitative.
- Jing Hongchen realizes Jiang Bai entered Mingdu through unofficial channels with the help of a guide, likely concealing the presence of the powerful Du Busi. Rather than press the issue, he offers to complete Jiang Bai’s identity information.
- Jing Hongchen invites Jiang Bai to attend the academy as a special-talent student. Jiang is uninterested in learning how to manufacture Soul Tools but is willing to use them, so Jing proposes that he try attending classes before formally enrolling.
- Jing Hongchen gives Jiang Bai a personal token that can resolve most problems within the Sun Moon Empire, signaling trust and an attempt to build a relationship with him.
- Meng arranges a luxurious dormitory and academy uniform for Jiang Bai.
- Jiang asks about Xuan Ziwen because he wants someone to construct a Soul Tool—presumably his motorcycle. Meng agrees to take him to Xuan Ziwen after learning that Jing Hongchen is occupied with an important experiment.
- Jing Hongchen also reveals that Kong Deming is currently unavailable due to Soul Tool research but would like to meet Jiang Bai.
Character Developments
- Jiang Bai: Demonstrates caution and political awareness by visiting Jing Hongchen and maintaining a believable explanation for his presence in Mingdu. He shows little interest in formal Soul Tool study but recognizes their usefulness and seeks skilled craftsmen for his own projects.
- Meng Hongchen: Acts openly affectionate and familiar with her grandfather while eagerly including Jiang Bai in her daily life. She takes responsibility for guiding him through the academy and appears excited at the prospect of attending classes and spending time with him.
- Jing Hongchen: Treats Jiang Bai with unusual warmth and diplomacy. Although he suspects Jiang Bai is connected to a powerful hidden force, he avoids confrontation and instead offers assistance, hoping to cultivate cooperation and perhaps persuade Jiang Bai to remain in the Sun Moon Empire.
- Kong Deming: Does not appear directly, but his reputation as a major figure is reinforced. His prior interest in Jiang Bai and desire to meet him suggest that Jiang Bai has attracted the attention of the Sun Moon Empire’s highest-ranking Soul Tool experts.
Significant Themes
- Diplomacy and mutual advantage: Jing Hongchen balances suspicion with hospitality, recognizing that Jiang Bai may be connected to a powerful force but could also become a valuable ally.
- Trust and political maneuvering: Jiang Bai conceals the full truth of his arrival, while Jing Hongchen knowingly avoids probing too deeply. Both sides maintain a polite relationship built on partial information.
- Technology and specialization: Jiang Bai does not want to become a Soul Tool engineer, but he understands the importance of advanced equipment and seeks out experts such as Xuan Ziwen.
- Belonging and integration: The offer of a dormitory, uniform, academy access, and official identity represents an effort to integrate Jiang Bai into Sun Moon society.
- Humor and family dynamics: Meng’s demand that her grandfather “pay up” contrasts with Jing Hongchen’s serious political concerns, adding a lighthearted layer to their otherwise strategic meeting.
Character Interactions
- Meng Hongchen and Jing Hongchen: Their exchange highlights a playful grandfather-granddaughter relationship. Meng confidently demands money, while Jing responds with restrained exasperation before accommodating her.
- Jiang Bai and Jing Hongchen: Their conversation is polite but strategically cautious. Jing asks about Jiang’s intentions, while Jiang offers a limited explanation and gains official support in return.
- Jiang Bai and Meng Hongchen: Meng serves as Jiang’s guide and facilitator, arranging his dormitory, uniform, and future introduction to Xuan Ziwen. Her eagerness suggests she enjoys his company and hopes they will attend the academy together.
- Jiang Bai and the academy leadership: Jing’s invitation and token demonstrate that the academy views Jiang Bai as a potentially important guest rather than an ordinary student.