Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “An Uninvited Guest”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian’s distillation method successfully produces exceptionally clear, strong liquor from the bronze pot. The officials praise it as superior to ordinary wine and potentially comparable to imperial wine.
• Zhou Chunfeng reveals that the recipe originated with the Evil Sects after they stole a palace secret. Liu Muwa and Yan Shixiao recognize the wine’s commercial value and agree to support large-scale production.
• Liu Muwa plans to establish the first distillery in the Imperial Prison Bureau, with further distilleries to follow if production succeeds. Yan Shixiao also agrees to support the project as long as it generates revenue for the emperor.
• The discussion turns to cooperation between the Divine Capital Office, the Artifacts Office, and other government departments. Yan Shixiao teasingly comments on Zhou Chunfeng’s apparent fondness for Li Qingxian.
• Wei Yong unexpectedly arrives after the main meeting, claiming that the Finance Office will fully support the Night Guard’s proposed business. His arrival surprises Li Qingxian and clearly worries Zhou Chunfeng.
• Wei Yong attempts to force the Finance Office into the deal, likely to retaliate against Zhou Chunfeng and secure a share of the profits. Because the Finance Office controls the Night Guard’s funding, supplies, and salaries, Zhou Chunfeng cannot simply confront him without risking the entire agreement.
• Li Qingxian recognizes Wei Yong’s strategy and challenges him. He argues that Wei Yong arrived late, has failed to control subordinates who targeted him, and is now trying to claim financial benefits without contributing.
• Yan Shixiao realizes that Wei Yong is an “uninvited guest” attempting to insert himself into the arrangement. Zhou Chunfeng finally orders Wei Yong to leave.
• Wei Yong retaliates by accusing Li Qingxian of harming a deputy captain, interrupting an official, and defaming a senior official. He threatens to bring the matter before higher authorities and suggests Li could face severe punishment.
• Rather than backing down, Li Qingxian announces that he will now “speak the truth,” implying that he is prepared to expose Wei Yong’s misconduct or hidden motives.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian: Demonstrates technical competence through the successful distillation experiment, but also shows his increasingly bold, confrontational nature. He quickly understands Wei Yong’s political maneuvering and deliberately attacks the official’s weaknesses. His willingness to risk formal accusations shows both courage and recklessness.
• Zhou Chunfeng: Acts as Li Qingxian’s protector and business partner, but his normally diplomatic style leaves him vulnerable to Wei Yong’s pressure. He struggles between preserving institutional harmony and defending himself and Li Qingxian. Ultimately, he supports Li and orders Wei Yong out.
• Wei Yong: Reveals himself as calculating, vindictive, and opportunistic. He uses the Finance Office’s authority to force his way into the deal and later hides behind official regulations when Li Qingxian challenges him.
• Yan Shixiao: Appears amused and perceptive, quickly recognizing the tension between Wei Yong and the others. Though playful, he sides against Wei Yong when the latter abuses the situation.
• Liu Muwa: Focuses primarily on the wine’s financial potential, but he also recognizes Li Qingxian as fundamentally honest and objects when Wei Yong begins threatening him.
• Luo Jing: Shares in the excitement over the liquor’s quality and observes the political conflict alongside Li Qingxian.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and institutional power: The proposed distillery becomes a contest over influence and revenue. Control of funding allows Wei Yong to pressure Zhou Chunfeng even without contributing meaningfully.
• Public cooperation versus private rivalry: Officials present a united front while pursuing personal grudges and advantages beneath the surface.
• Courage against authority: Li Qingxian refuses to defer to rank, challenging Wei Yong despite the legal and professional risks.
• Bureaucratic hypocrisy: Wei Yong invokes laws against slander and insubordination while using official authority for personal retaliation and profit.
• Loyalty and protection: Zhou Chunfeng’s relationship with Li Qingxian is shown through his willingness to support him, while Yan Shixiao and Liu Muwa also react when Wei Yong’s behavior becomes unreasonable.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng maintain a close, informal relationship, with Li openly calling him “Uncle Zhou.”
• Yan Shixiao notices and comments on their closeness, while Zhou jokes about Li’s shamelessness.
• Wei Yong attempts to exploit the disagreement between the Finance Office and Divine Capital Office, but Li Qingxian exposes his motives and refuses to let him dominate the discussion.
• Yan Shixiao sharply defends Li Qingxian when Wei Yong criticizes the way Li addresses Zhou Chunfeng.
• Zhou Chunfeng ultimately backs Li’s position and dismisses Wei Yong.
• The chapter ends with Wei Yong threatening Li through official channels, while Li prepares to counterattack by revealing the truth behind the conflict.

Chapter Summary: “One Bird, Two Stones”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian confronts Wei Yong over his attempts to obstruct a profitable cooperation among the Divine Capital Office, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Inner Treasury Office.
• At first, Li suggests that outsiders leave so the Night Guard can handle its own affairs. Luo Jing recognizes this as a setup, and the other officials quickly support a public investigation.
• Wei Yong threatens Li with severe punishment if he cannot provide evidence for his accusations. Li then reveals a scandalous claim: Wei Yong’s trusted chief accountant, Tao Zhi, is allegedly having an affair with Madam Wei in the Wei household.
• When Wei Yong denies the accusation and refuses to let them verify it, Li points out that Wei deliberately stayed away from home on his wife’s birthday while leaving Tao Zhi to receive the guests.
• Li further reminds Wei Yong that he has previously tried to have Li killed, imprison him, and sabotage the four-office business arrangement.
• Rather than simply accusing Wei Yong, Li reframes the scandal as Tao Zhi’s plot: Tao may be manipulating Wei into obstructing the cooperation so that he can later seize Wei’s position as Finance Office Director.
• Li suggests that Tao intended to achieve “one bird, two stones”—damaging Wei’s career while also seducing and dishonoring Madam Wei.
• Yan Shixiao then declares that obstructing the deal is equivalent to cutting off a source of revenue for the emperor, sharply increasing the pressure on Wei Yong.

2. Character Developments

• Li Qingxian reveals himself as calculating, bold, and highly skilled at psychological warfare. He uses scandal and insinuation to force Wei Yong into an impossible choice: defend himself and expose Tao, or protect Tao and appear guilty.
• Wei Yong begins confident and threatening but gradually loses control as Li exposes his vulnerabilities. His refusal to allow an investigation makes him appear increasingly suspicious.
• Zhou Chunfeng initially tries to maintain neutrality and harmony, but he sides increasingly with Li and allows the accusations to be examined publicly. Li privately views him as too softhearted.
• Luo Jing demonstrates that he understands Li’s methods and immediately recognizes that Li is preparing a counterattack.
• Yan Shixiao shifts from an amused observer to an authoritative official defending imperial financial interests. His concern over lost revenue gives the confrontation political weight.
• Tao Zhi, though absent, is portrayed as a corrupt and ambitious subordinate who may be exploiting Wei Yong for personal advancement.

3. Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and strategic deception: Li wins not through direct proof alone but by controlling the narrative and turning Wei Yong’s allies against one another.
• Public reputation and private shame: The chapter weaponizes allegations about Wei Yong’s household and marriage, showing how personal scandal can become a political tool.
• Loyalty versus self-preservation: Wei Yong must choose between defending Tao Zhi and protecting himself, illustrating the fragility of hierarchical alliances.
• Money and imperial authority: The profitable cooperation is framed as benefiting the emperor’s treasury, making opposition to it appear equivalent to harming imperial interests.
• The danger of obstruction: Wei Yong’s attempt to disrupt the arrangement ultimately gives Li an opportunity to portray him as incompetent, corrupt, or manipulated.
• “One bird, two stones”: Li’s strategy is to damage both Tao Zhi and Wei Yong—or force them to destroy each other—while preserving the business deal.

4. Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Wei Yong: Their exchange escalates from formal accusations to open personal hostility. Li repeatedly provokes Wei, while Wei responds with threats that become less convincing as his composure breaks.
• Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng: Li relies on Zhou’s authority but believes Zhou is too conciliatory. Zhou nonetheless helps legitimize the investigation.
• Li Qingxian and Luo Jing: Luo understands Li’s intentions and supports his plan by insisting that the matter be investigated openly.
• Li Qingxian and Yan Shixiao: Li appeals to Yan as an impartial authority, asking him to defend both his innocence and the commercial arrangement. Yan ultimately backs Li because the deal benefits the emperor.
• Wei Yong and Yan Shixiao: Wei attempts to invoke rank and authority, but Yan reframes the issue as one of protecting imperial revenue, leaving Wei politically cornered.

Chapter Summary: “A Green Footprint with Every Step”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian and the others confront Wei Yong over the Finance Office’s interference in the Night Guard’s investigation and its partnership with Tao Zhi.
• Zhou Chunfeng pressures Wei Yong by invoking the Inner Factory’s authority, warning that refusing cooperation could lead to harsher consequences. Wei Yong reluctantly agrees to take them to his residence.
• To prevent Wei Yong from warning anyone, Yan Shixiao orders that the entire group accompany him. The Coffin Sedan transports several officials, while Night Guards and other forces surround the procession and clear the streets.
• Li Qingxian brings Han Anbo and Yu Ping along and helps plan the raid on Wei Residence. He orders Han Anbo to guide the group toward Madam Wei’s courtyard.
• Luo Jing uses the Evil Eye, a sinister artifact that manifests a third, scarlet eye on his forehead. Its power enslaves the minds of the guards, servants, and maids, turning them into obedient followers.
• The group enters Wei Residence without resistance. While Luo Jing advances through the compound, Wei Yong deliberately slows the others’ progress, apparently hoping to delay the discovery of Tao Zhi.
• Li Qingxian repeatedly mocks Wei Yong, implying that Tao Zhi is having an affair with Madam Wei and joking that Wei Yong has been “green” repeatedly. Zhou Chunfeng joins in with an elaborate pun about being betrayed “one footprint at a time.”
• At last, they reach the inner residence. A woman’s loud singing and the repeated crashing of heavy wood against the walls reveal that Tao Zhi and Madam Wei are engaged in scandalous activity.
• Wei Yong loses control and shouts, while Luo Jing’s Evil Eye seals the area. The officials realize that Wei Yong’s reputation and marriage have been publicly ruined.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates growing confidence and strategic authority. Despite his low rank, senior Night Guards defer to his judgment, and he takes an active role in organizing the operation. His sharp humor also becomes a weapon for provoking Wei Yong.
• Wei Yong shifts from a powerful, defiant official to a humiliated and powerless husband. He attempts to delay the group, but his efforts fail, and his private disgrace becomes unavoidable.
• Zhou Chunfeng shows both political control and personal wit. He initially helps force Wei Yong’s compliance, then playfully rebukes Li Qingxian while adding an even sharper joke at Wei Yong’s expense.
• Yan Shixiao reveals a cold, intimidating side beneath his refined appearance. His invocation of the Inner Factory and strict control of the escort demonstrate his authority.
• Luo Jing displays the frightening methods of the Evil Sects. His use of the Evil Eye establishes him as both powerful and unsettling, while also showing the Night Guard’s willingness to employ extreme tactics.
• Han Anbo remains calm and obedient despite the supernatural nature of Luo Jing’s method, helping lead the group through the residence.

Significant Themes

• Abuse and hierarchy of power: Officials operate through overlapping bureaucratic and military authorities, with the Inner Factory’s reputation forcing even senior officials into submission.
• Public reputation versus private corruption: Wei Yong presents himself as a dignified court official, but his household contains a scandal that destroys his standing.
• Surveillance and loss of privacy: The raid shows how easily powerful institutions can penetrate a private home, while Luo Jing’s Evil Eye turns the household’s own servants into instruments of control.
• Humiliation and poetic justice: Wei Yong’s attempt to obstruct the investigation ends with him being publicly exposed. His authority cannot protect him from personal disgrace.
• Cruelty mixed with comedy: The serious political confrontation is repeatedly undercut by Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng’s sarcastic jokes, making Wei Yong’s downfall both threatening and absurd.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Wei Yong: Their exchange is openly hostile. Li needles Wei Yong about the affair, while Wei Yong threatens him by referencing the Li family’s past troubles.
• Zhou Chunfeng and Li Qingxian: Zhou acts as both senior official and mentor, correcting Li’s phrasing while participating in the mockery.
• Yan Shixiao and Wei Yong: Yan uses institutional authority to force Wei Yong’s cooperation and later makes him lead the group into his own humiliating household.
• Luo Jing and the residence staff: Luo Jing’s Evil Eye strips the guards and servants of their will, transforming them into silent followers.
• The assembled officials and Wei Yong: Their silent procession behind Wei Yong heightens the pressure, turning his slow walk toward the inner residence into a public march toward disgrace.

Chapter Summary: “Finance Office’s Nemesis”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wei Yong discovers Tao Zhi in bed with Madam Wei after Li Qingxian and Luo Jing expose the situation. Luo Jing uses a Sound Seal to ensure no one inside can hear the confrontation outside.
• Wei Yong storms into the room and attacks Tao Zhi, but Zhou Hen intervenes after Li Qingxian orders that Tao Zhi be kept alive for questioning.
• Tao Zhi claims he has an explanation, but he is knocked unconscious before he can defend himself. Madam Wei awakens and begins dressing in front of everyone, appearing more composed and defiant than ashamed.
• Wei Yong publicly claims that Tao Zhi drugged Madam Wei and attempted to violate her, presenting the incident as an assault rather than acknowledging any possible mutual involvement. Madam Wei supports this version, saying she remembers only drinking wine and waking up afterward.
• Madam Wei then unexpectedly shifts her attention to Zhou Chunfeng, warmly addressing him as “Brother Spring Breeze” and dragging him to a chair. Her familiarity and flirtatious behavior leave Li Qingxian bewildered, while Zhou Hen appears unsurprised.
• Yan Shixiao declares the matter settled and asks whether the Finance Office will still participate in the planned cooperation. Wei Yong, unwilling to oppose the project after the scandal, remains silent, effectively agreeing.
• Li Qingxian argues that Tao Zhi’s actions went beyond a private crime: he also attempted to sabotage cooperation involving the Imperial Treasury and Night Guard. He recommends sending Tao Zhi to the Imperial Prison and publicly seeking other victims.
• Zhou Chunfeng orders Zhou Hen to cripple Tao Zhi’s dantian and escort him to the Imperial Prison. Tao Zhi briefly awakens in agony before being dragged away.
• Li Qingxian warns Wei Yong that repeated misconduct by Finance Office officials will damage Wei Yong’s position. He also demands that the Finance Office promptly provide its initial project payment.
• Before leaving, Li Qingxian offers Madam Wei birthday wishes and humorously promises that Zhou Chunfeng will leave her a piece of calligraphy as a gift.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates increasing political power and ruthlessness. He turns Tao Zhi’s personal crime into a major institutional case, ensuring Tao Zhi cannot be quietly protected or lightly punished. His warning to Wei Yong establishes him as a direct threat to the Finance Office.
• Wei Yong is humiliated and enraged but suppresses his emotions for political survival. Rather than defend Tao Zhi or pursue personal revenge, he allows the cooperation to continue and accepts Li Qingxian’s pressure.
• Madam Wei reveals a fiery, shamelessly defiant personality. Once her reputation is ruined, she refuses to behave submissively and manipulates the situation by supporting Wei Yong’s official explanation. Her apparent familiarity with Zhou Chunfeng introduces a surprising and possibly scandalous personal history.
• Tao Zhi is exposed as a corrupt and predatory official who attempted to interfere with the cooperation. He loses any chance of escaping punishment and is sent to the Imperial Prison with his cultivation crippled.
• Zhou Chunfeng remains outwardly calm and dignified despite the absurdity of the scene and Madam Wei’s advances. His order to cripple Tao Zhi shows his willingness to act decisively.
• Zhou Hen functions as an efficient enforcer, intervening to protect Tao Zhi from being killed, then carrying out the order to cripple and arrest him.
• Luo Jing demonstrates his ability to control the battlefield with seals and helps prevent outside interference.

Significant Themes

• Political power versus personal scandal: The affair becomes important not merely because of the moral crime, but because it threatens cooperation between major government offices.
• Reputation and official manipulation: Wei Yong and Madam Wei knowingly construct a convenient public narrative to protect the Wei family’s interests, showing how truth can be reshaped by political necessity.
• Justice as strategy: Li Qingxian uses Tao Zhi’s wrongdoing to eliminate a political obstacle and strengthen institutional cooperation, blurring the line between justice and political maneuvering.
• Humiliation and retaliation: Wei Yong’s disgrace gives Li Qingxian leverage, while Madam Wei responds to her ruined reputation by openly defying social expectations.
• Li Qingxian’s growing influence: His ability to imprison multiple officials and pressure the Finance Office earns him the sarcastic title “Finance Office’s Nemesis.”

Important Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Wei Yong: Li Qingxian repeatedly controls the situation and warns Wei Yong that further failures will carry serious consequences. Wei Yong is forced to endure the humiliation silently.
• Wei Yong and Madam Wei: Their interaction is outwardly formal but emotionally hostile. Madam Wei blames Wei Yong indirectly for the disaster and deepens his humiliation by behaving defiantly.
• Madam Wei and Zhou Chunfeng: Her sudden warmth and familiarity with Zhou Chunfeng create a comic and mysterious contrast with the surrounding crisis. Zhou Chunfeng’s restrained reaction suggests this is not their first unusual encounter.
• Li Qingxian and Tao Zhi: Li Qingxian converts Tao Zhi’s crime into a broader prosecution, ensuring that he faces severe punishment rather than a private settlement.
• Zhou Chunfeng and Zhou Hen: Zhou Chunfeng gives the order, and Zhou Hen executes it immediately, reinforcing their efficiency and authority.

Chapter Summary: “Hunting Demons”

Plot Points and Events

• Madam Wei celebrates her birthday, and Zhou Chunfeng agrees to write her a piece of calligraphy. She is delighted, while her husband, Wei Yong, sits uneasily and repeatedly glances at Li Qingxian.
• Haunted by his humiliating defeat and fearing the consequences of opposing Li Qingxian, Wei Yong eventually leaves the gathering. He later stares at the sealed well connected to the night’s sinister events and remains troubled until he finally goes to sleep.
• At Chunfeng Residence, Li Qingxian, Zhou Chunfeng, Luo Jing, Liu Muwa, and Yan Shixiao formally establish a five-party partnership to produce and operate distilled liquor. Each party receives two shares:
  • The Ministry of Works oversees production.
  • The Night Guard’s Divine Capital Office handles operations.
  • Li Qingxian receives official recognition as the inventor of the distillation method.
  • All participating departments promise to protect the workshop from interference.
• After the others leave, Zhou Chunfeng questions Li Qingxian about the recent incidents involving Tao Zhi, Hong Cheng, the Grand Canal, the snakes and ants, and Wei Yong. Li Qingxian gives a complete account and defends his actions as necessary self-protection.
• Zhou Chunfeng reveals that the Night Guard has already erased or handled the evidence connected to the snake burial site. He warns Li Qingxian that his aggressive, uncompromising nature resembles Gang Feng’s and could eventually cause him serious trouble.
• Li Qingxian shows Zhou Chunfeng his spirit talismans. Zhou recognizes the power of Li Qingxian’s Divine Firmament Thunder Seed but orders him to keep it secret. He also forbids Li Qingxian from selling talismans until he reaches Seventh Rank.
• Li Qingxian is temporarily excused from street patrols and social banquets. He is instructed to cultivate Fate Arts and Thunder Arts and supervise the distilled-liquor workshop at the Imperial Prison.
• Zhou Chunfeng explains that advancing to Ninth Rank within the Night Guard requires participation in a demon hunt and the killing of either ten minor demons or one Tenth Rank demon, devil, ghost, or monster.
• Li Qingxian plans to learn Thunder Arts from You Fei once her injuries heal. Zhou warns him not to visit Azure Firmament Abbey because Old Master Jiang’s disappearance has intensified internal conflict within the Sky Firmament Sect. You Fei has also fought the Devil Sect and is staying in the Divine Capital to avoid the turmoil.
• After Li Qingxian jokingly questions Zhou Chunfeng about his past romantic admirers, Zhou angrily drives him away. Alone, Zhou recalls the old Spring Breeze Society and a woman he once loved. He buries a lotus beside the maple tree near the buried candied hawthorns, suggesting lingering grief and remembrance.
• The next day, Li Qingxian is awakened by Han Anbo and informed that officials from the Ministry of Works, Inner Treasury Office, and Ministry of Revenue are waiting for him at the Imperial Prison Bureau.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian grows more confident in his power and willingness to resist oppression. He believes that remaining passive would leave him vulnerable, but Zhou Chunfeng’s warnings remind him that excessive rigidity and recklessness may be dangerous.
• Zhou Chunfeng acts as Li Qingxian’s protector, mentor, and political shield. He is pragmatic and deeply informed, quietly managing evidence and arranging Li’s cultivation priorities. His memories of the Spring Breeze Society reveal a hidden, emotional side beneath his stern exterior.
• Wei Yong is psychologically shaken by his defeat. His former confidence and political ruthlessness collapse into fear and self-doubt after realizing that Li Qingxian is far more dangerous than he expected.
• Madam Wei is openly captivated by Zhou Chunfeng’s attention and calligraphy, creating a contrast with Wei Yong’s anxiety.
• You Fei is presented as powerful and principled, having defended her sect’s reputation despite its internal disorder. Her injuries and connection to Li Qingxian remain important to his future training.
• Han Anbo and Yu Ping continue to function as trusted Night Guard allies who help manage the consequences of Li Qingxian’s actions.

Significant Themes

• Power and self-protection: Li Qingxian’s violence is framed as both morally questionable and practically necessary in a dangerous world.
• The danger of excessive rigidity: Zhou emphasizes that people who refuse to bend may eventually break, warning Li against becoming too reckless.
• Secrecy and political maneuvering: The Night Guard’s ability to conceal evidence and monitor events highlights the importance of information and hidden influence.
• Ambition and cultivation: Li Qingxian’s advancement toward Ninth Rank now depends on successfully hunting demons, making martial and supernatural growth central to his future.
• Memory, loss, and unresolved love: Zhou Chunfeng’s recollection of the Spring Breeze Society and his burial of the lotus reveal enduring attachment to the past.
• Institutional cooperation and power-building: The distillery agreement unites several government offices, giving Li Qingxian a growing economic and political foundation.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Chunfeng and Li Qingxian’s relationship combines mentorship, discipline, trust, and playful banter. Zhou criticizes Li’s harsh methods but also protects him and recognizes his growing strength.
• Li Qingxian and Wei Yong barely interact directly in this chapter, but Li’s earlier victory dominates Wei Yong’s thoughts and leaves him intimidated.
• The five government representatives cooperate formally to establish the distillery, demonstrating Li Qingxian’s expanding influence among powerful institutions.
• Li Qingxian’s teasing about Zhou Chunfeng’s romantic past briefly exposes Zhou’s embarrassment and emotional history.
• Zhou Chunfeng’s warnings about You Fei and the Sky Firmament Sect connect Li Qingxian’s personal relationships to the larger political and sectarian conflicts surrounding him.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and events: Han Anbo confronts Ye Han after discovering that Ye Han’s Fate Mold is exceptionally resilient. Ye Han appears to have placed Han Anbo in a fatal predicament and declares that, for the sake of the “greater good,” Han must be sacrificed. Despite Han’s attempts to resist, Ye Han insists that the situation is certain to end in death. The chapter’s status text also identifies Li as the “Sunshine Boy,” cursed with terrible luck and newly promoted to a Fate Arts Master, suggesting that fate-related powers and misfortune are central to the unfolding conflict.

Character developments

• Han Anbo is shown as surprised by Ye Han’s strength and struggles against the situation, indicating both awareness of the danger and a desire to survive.
• Ye Han demonstrates confidence, determination, and a willingness to make ruthless sacrifices for what he considers a greater cause. His statement presents him as pragmatic—or possibly manipulative—rather than compassionate.
• Li is briefly characterized through the system-like description as unusually unlucky but powerful or accomplished due to his promotion to Fate Arts Master.
• Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes fate versus personal resistance, the burden of sacrifice for the greater good, and the moral conflict between survival and collective benefit. It also introduces the idea that powerful fate-based abilities may determine people’s lives while still being difficult to overcome.
• Character interactions: The central interaction is the confrontation between Han Anbo and Ye Han. Han resists the fate imposed on him, while Ye Han calmly argues that his death is unavoidable and necessary. Their exchange establishes a conflict between Han’s instinct for self-preservation and Ye Han’s uncompromising commitment to a larger objective.

Chapter Summary: “Eerie Demon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the previous incident, Li Qingxian is surrounded by Night Guards eager to hear the truth about the scandal involving Lord and Lady Wei. He denies knowing anything beyond the fact that Tao Zhi drugged them, though his overly serious response only encourages the guards’ gossip.
• Li, Han Anbo, and Yu Ping travel to the Imperial Prison Bureau on orders from Zhou Chunfeng. Along the way, Li jokes about his role in the previous incident and asks Han about the prison’s defenses and organization.
• The Imperial Prison Bureau is portrayed as a heavily guarded, ominous complex protected by powerful bronze Great Xiezhi artifacts, each capable of fighting a Third Rank expert.
• Han explains that the prison is divided into:
  • The East Courtyard, which holds ordinary prisoners, lower-ranked cultivators, and some Middle Three Ranks experts.
  • The West Courtyard, or “Deviant Ward,” which contains powerful cultivators, great Demon-Devils, and the feared creatures known as Eerie Demons.
• The group proceeds to the Yi Room in the East Courtyard, where officials are expecting Li. They pass chained prisoners and prison staff before being met by the jailer Fan Xing.
• Fan Xing and the other jailers react with surprise upon recognizing Li Qingxian and immediately treat him with unusual respect, implying that his reputation has already spread within the prison.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian continues to display confidence, wit, and composure. He handles gossip with a deliberately solemn denial and casually jokes about powerful Night Guard officials, showing both fearlessness and an irreverent attitude toward authority.
• He also demonstrates curiosity and practical awareness by asking about the prison’s artifacts, structure, and prisoners. His interest in the Eerie Demons suggests that he is alert to the deeper dangers surrounding the Imperial Prison.
• Han Anbo serves as the knowledgeable guide. His familiarity with the prison’s layout and his cautious attitude toward discussing Eerie Demons reveal his experience and respect for the institution’s dangers.
• Yu Ping remains comic and down-to-earth, focusing on the quality of prison food even while entering one of the capital’s most dangerous locations.
• Fan Xing shifts rapidly from suspicion to respectful deference once he learns Li’s identity, indicating Li’s growing influence or notoriety.

Significant Themes

• Rumor versus truth: The Night Guards care more about sensational gossip than the actual facts of the Wei incident, while Li exploits their expectations through an obviously guarded response.
• Power and reputation: Li’s official connections and reputation cause people to treat him differently, even before he has done anything within the Imperial Prison.
• Hidden danger beneath order: The Imperial Prison is meticulously organized and heavily defended, yet its dark architecture and supernatural prisoners create an atmosphere of concealed menace.
• Fear of the unknown: The Eerie Demons are treated as taboo subjects. Their history, immense power, and disputed origins suggest a larger conflict between humans and demons.
• Irreverence versus caution: Li jokes freely about high-ranking Night Guard officials, while Han repeatedly warns him to show proper respect, highlighting the contrast between Li’s boldness and Han’s prudence.

Character Interactions

• The Night Guards tease Li about the Wei scandal, and he responds with mock seriousness. Their laughter shows that they understand his denial as confirmation that the rumors are entertainingly close to the truth.
• Li and Han discuss the Imperial Prison’s defenses, hierarchy, and history. Han provides cautious exposition, while Li responds with jokes and probing questions.
• Li and Yu exchange banter about prison food, lightening the otherwise threatening journey.
• Upon reaching the East Courtyard, Fan Xing and the jailers initially appear wary but quickly salute Li after learning who he is. Their reaction suggests that his arrival is significant and that the prisoners—or someone among them—may already know of him.

Summary of Acquaintances in Prison

1. Key Plot Points & Events

Li Qingxian’s Visit to the Imperial Prison

• Li Qingxian, now a rising figure in the Imperial Court, visits the prison to see old acquaintances—former colleagues who have fallen into disgrace.
• He encounters Pang Mingjing (former Finance Office chief clerk), Tao Zhi (a Night Guard Yamen official who replaced him), and another unnamed prisoner (likely a subordinate of Tao Zhi), all now imprisoned.
• Li Qingxian barely acknowledges them, leaving them in a state of shock—his indifference suggests he sees them as irrelevant to his ambitions.
• Fan Xing, a prison guard, flaunts his connections, while Pang Mingjing reflects on Li’s cold detachment, fearing his rise could be dangerous.

Meeting at Yi-Three Room (Distillery Site)

• Li Qingxian meets Zhou Chunfeng, Luo Jing (Ministry of Revenue official), and Jing Guan (a high-ranking eunuch) overseeing the construction of a large-scale distillery.
• Jing Guan is warm and straightforward, unlike the scheming Yan Shixiao, and confirms he serves under both the Inner Treasury Office and the Internal Factory, meaning he has authority over the project.
• Luo Jing jokingly complains about Li’s bluntness but presents the "Divine Tablet Evil Eye" (a magical artifact) as his contribution.
• Liu Muwa, the master distiller, is already at work on a serpentine condenser (a new design Li recognizes but doesn’t fully understand).
• Li Qingxian criticizes the chaotic construction, emphasizing cleanliness, precision, and long-term quality over speed, warning that even dust and bugs could ruin the product.

2. Character Developments

Li Qingxian

• Demonstrates strategic detachment—he doesn’t waste time on old enemies but focuses on long-term goals (the distillery project).
• Shows pragmatic leadership by insisting on standards (cleanliness, proper materials) rather than rushing progress.
• His calm demeanor intimidates former rivals, hinting at his future influence.

Pang Mingjing

• Resigned and observant—he notices Li’s indifference and fears his rise could be catastrophic.
• Reflects on past failures, particularly Lord Wei’s poor judgment in promoting Tao Zhi over him.

Tao Zhi

• Bitterness and defiance—he questions why Pang is so passive, showing his ambition and resentment toward his former superior.
• His physical state (bloody, weak) contrasts with Pang’s composure, suggesting his downfall was swift and brutal.

Liu Muwa

• Brilliant but chaotic—his innovative condenser design shows his expertise, but his disorganized methods (piled rubble, dust) worry Li.
• Eager for Li’s approval but resistant to strict oversight, hinting at a clash between tradition and modernization.

Jing Guan

• Honest and capable—unlike other eunuchs, he is loyal to the Emperor and respectful of Li’s authority.
• His Golden Dragon token confirms his dual authority, making him a key ally in the project.

Luo Jing

• Playful but competent—his magical artifact (Divine Tablet Evil Eye) suggests he has unconventional resources at his disposal.
• His helpless laughter at Li’s bluntness shows his humor and adaptability.

3. Significant Themes

Power & Ambition

• Li Qingxian’s indifference toward former allies contrasts with their desperation, highlighting how political shifts can destroy careers overnight.
• Pang’s fear of Li’s rise reflects the fragility of power—even former elites can be discarded.

Innovation vs. Tradition

• Liu Muwa’s serpentine condenser represents craftsmanship and experimentation, while Li’s demands for cleanliness and precision push for industrial efficiency.
• The distillery project symbolizes Great Qi’s modernization, requiring both old skills (Liu Muwa) and new management (Li Qingxian).
• **Loyal

Chapter Summary: Demon-Hunting Office

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian advises Liu Muwa that thoroughly cleaning and organizing the brewery will significantly improve liquor quality and sales. Liu agrees and summons thousands of skeletal servants from his Luck Silver-Fish Pouch to clean the workshop.
• Afterward, Li helps redesign the brewery. Although he lacks practical craftsmanship, his extensive knowledge allows him to suggest numerous improvements. The Ministry of Works officials find his attention to detail excessive, and he abandons some proposed safety measures because changing ingrained human habits is more difficult than changing equipment.
• Han Anbo reports that Ye Han has obtained a wisp of Heavenly Fire True Intent and attracted the attention of Song Yanxue, the Night Guard’s Left Deputy Commander and Director of the Demon-Hunting Office. Song, renowned for cultivating talented martial artists, may transfer Ye Han into her office.
• The group suspects Ye Han deliberately exposed his Heavenly Fire aura to gain Song Yanxue’s favor. Li realizes that Ye Han’s great Fortune and Fate Mold may threaten him, especially since Li possesses treasures connected to Ye Han and has close ties with powerful figures.
• Han Anbo reminds Li to distinguish between his primary and secondary cultivation paths. Li identifies Fate Arts as his main path and begins systematically recording and studying the Fate Measuring Sect’s teachings, while continuing to practice Thunder Arts as a secondary pursuit.
• For several days, Li divides his time between brewery construction during the day and cultivation at night. Construction proceeds poorly, with repeated errors, equipment failures, and delays.
• The brewery’s distiller eventually explodes, collapsing Yi-Three Room. Fortunately, the Ministry of Works Puppet Cultivators suffer only minor injuries, and the brewery is still in its early stages.
• Jing Guan, frightened that the accident will bring punishment from the Inner Treasury Office, gives Li full authority over brewery operations. Li agrees to investigate the cause and places responsibility on the careless Puppet Cultivators.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates practical foresight and strong organizational ability. He recognizes the importance of safety and discipline, but also realizes that people are harder to reform than machines. The explosion reinforces his authority and validates his earlier warnings.
• Liu Muwa proves willing to use supernatural resources—even an army of skeletons—to carry out administrative tasks efficiently. He cooperates with Li’s plans for improving the brewery.
• Han Anbo acts as a perceptive adviser. Though unable to cultivate, he understands cultivation principles and quietly guides Li toward prioritizing Fate Arts.
• Ye Han emerges as ambitious and strategically manipulative. He appears to have used his Heavenly Fire aura to secure Song Yanxue’s patronage, suggesting that his Fortune is backed by deliberate scheming.
• Song Yanxue is presented as a powerful, solitary martial expert who enjoys nurturing promising talents. Her interest in Ye Han could greatly improve his future prospects.
• Jing Guan reveals his anxiety and political vulnerability. Concerned about being blamed for the accident, he quickly transfers authority to Li and tries to shift responsibility onto the Ministry of Works.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus action: Li’s statement that “sharpening the axe does not delay chopping firewood” emphasizes that careful preparation ultimately improves efficiency.
• The difficulty of changing people: Technical improvements are easy compared with overcoming negligence, pride, and resistance to new methods.
• Power and influence: Ye Han’s cultivation opportunity shows how talent, calculated self-presentation, and powerful patrons can shape one’s destiny.
• Fate and personal effort: Li worries about being suppressed by Ye Han’s Fate Mold but resolves to rely on his own cultivation rather than imitate Ye Han’s tactics.
• Accountability and bureaucracy: The brewery accident exposes how officials shift blame when projects fail, while Li’s new authority reflects both responsibility and political danger.
• Supernatural forces in ordinary administration: Skeleton laborers, Fate Arts, Heavenly Fire, and Thunder Arts coexist with mundane concerns such as workshop cleanliness, production safety, and equipment failure.

Character Interactions

• Li and Liu work together on improving the brewery, with Liu supplying supernatural labor and Li providing technical guidance.
• Han Anbo gives Li intelligence about Ye Han and Song Yanxue, then subtly advises him on structuring his cultivation.
• Li and Han discuss Ye Han’s ambitions and the relative strength of the Demon-Hunting Office, revealing Li’s concern about potential rivalry.
• After the explosion, Li negotiates with Jing Guan, reassuring him while gaining control over the brewery’s future operations.
• Li then turns toward the Ministry of Works Puppet Cultivators to determine why the distiller failed, setting up the next stage of the investigation.

Chapter Summary: “Slap!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A newly constructed snake-shaped condenser pipe made by Director Liu explodes, damaging the facility. The exact cause—excess steam or a temperature-related flaw—remains uncertain.
• Jing Guan angrily blames the Ministry of Works’ Puppet Cultivators until Liu Muwa arrives and orders a thorough inspection of the damaged rooms.
• After the accident, Liu Muwa, Li Qingxian, Zhou Chunfeng, Luo Jing, and Jing Guan meet to discuss responsibility and prevention.
• Liu Muwa accepts blame for rushing the project and failing to follow Li Qingxian’s advice. He agrees to establish strict safety procedures and promises to promote them throughout the Ministry of Works if successful.
• Li Qingxian emphasizes that preventing future accidents matters more than assigning punishment, presenting the safety system as a long-term, potentially century-spanning plan.
• Jing Guan apologizes for his earlier outburst and dismisses the explosion as bad luck, prompting Li Qingxian to investigate everyone’s Fortune.
• Li discovers that Liu Muwa, Zhou Chunfeng, Luo Jing, and Jing Guan all possess favorable Fortune and strong upward momentum. None appears responsible for the accident.
• Li eventually realizes that his own weakened Fate Mold may be the source of the problem. His “Ruined House” and “Zero Fate Mold” have likely been worsened by his enemies and the growing power of Ye Han.
• He decides to accelerate the creation of his own Fate Mold, beginning with the refinement of the Fate Fishing Rod.
• Luo Jing informs him that the money needed to forge the artifact is ready. Li learns that Spirit Metal is also necessary but extremely expensive and scarce.
• Liu Muwa unexpectedly lends Li exactly the ten mace of Spirit Metal required for the Fate Fishing Rod.
• Returning to Jia-Nine Office, Li recruits Han Anbo to purchase Fate Materials and assigns Yu Ping to borrow large porcelain bowls and guard the door while he refines the artifact.
• Li gives Han Anbo extra money for miscellaneous expenses, emphasizing that those who help him should not be forced to work without compensation.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian: Becomes more cautious and introspective after realizing that his own Fate may be influencing events. He shifts focus toward strengthening his Fate Mold and begins preparing to forge the Fate Fishing Rod. He also shows generosity and practical consideration by giving Han Anbo funds for expenses.
• Liu Muwa: Demonstrates accountability and administrative competence by accepting responsibility for the explosion and supporting Li’s safety reforms. His favorable Fortune reflects a promising political rise. He also assists Li by lending rare Spirit Metal.
• Jing Guan: Moves from furious blame to apology and cooperation, helping restore harmony after the accident. His tendency to attribute the incident to bad luck indirectly encourages Li’s investigation into Fortune.
• Zhou Chunfeng: Remains a powerful, respected official with exceptionally strong Fortune and an advancing career, though he leaves to handle other duties.
• Luo Jing: Acts as a practical supporter, informing Li about the money and warning him about the difficulty of obtaining Spirit Metal.
• Han Anbo: Continues serving as Li’s dependable assistant and is entrusted with a substantial sum to buy materials and cover expenses.
• Yu Ping: Provides comic relief through his heavy sleeping and exaggerated physicality, but is still given a useful role as a guard.

Significant Themes

• Accountability versus blame: Liu Muwa and Li Qingxian show that resolving the underlying problem is more important than punishing individuals.
• Safety and long-term planning: The proposed safety procedures represent institutional reform and the importance of learning from accidents.
• Fortune and hidden causes: The chapter suggests that disasters may result not from visible human mistakes but from unseen fluctuations in fate, personal enemies, or weakened destiny.
• Preparation and self-reliance: Li recognizes that he must strengthen his own Fate rather than merely study the fortunes of others.
• Trust and mutual support: Liu Muwa’s loan and Han Anbo’s assistance show the growing network of cooperation around Li.
• Fairness and generosity: Li’s decision to compensate Han Anbo reflects his belief that assistance should not be taken for granted.

Character Interactions

• Liu Muwa and Li Qingxian cooperate closely: Liu accepts responsibility while Li redirects attention toward future prevention.
• Jing Guan apologizes to Liu and the Ministry of Works, easing tensions after his angry accusations.
• Luo Jing helps Li access funds and explains the scarcity of Spirit Metal, while Li jokingly pressures him to obtain it.
• Liu Muwa surprises Li by lending him the needed Spirit Metal, deepening their working relationship.
• Li gives Han Anbo financial support and entrusts him with purchasing materials, while Yu Ping is assigned to protect the refining process.
• The chapter ends on a comic note when Li wakes Yu Ping with a forceful slap, contrasting the serious discussions of fate, responsibility, and institutional reform.

Chapter Summary: Fate Artifact Complete

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian begins forging his Fate Artifact, the Fate Fishing Rod, using broken gold, Spirit-Awakening Talismans, Fate Materials, and ten grains of Spirit Metal.
• He melts, purifies, tempers, and fuses the materials into molten gold while Yu Ping and Han Anbo guard the room.
• The addition of Spirit Metal causes an extraordinary reaction: multicolored radiance erupts into the sky, alarming the entire Street Patrol Office.
• Curious Night Guards gather outside, but Han Anbo and Yu Ping prevent them from entering. Instructor Dong Ying helps maintain order.
• Li Qingxian completes the forging by inserting his hands into the molten gold. The material flows through his body, passes through the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal in his Spirit Platform, and enters his Fate Mansion.
• The molten gold forms a golden fishing rod with a lightning line and dark-gold hook, which settles above the artificial mountain in his Fate Pool.
• With the Fate Fishing Rod completed, Li Qingxian becomes a genuine Fate Arts Master, capable of using ordinary Fate Stars as bait to fish for other fates.
• He begins considering Life Buying, a method of borrowing another person’s fate through a contract. He realizes that if he later fishes up a new fate, the death of the original fate’s owner may no longer affect him.
• Upon emerging, Li Qingxian is greeted by more than a hundred Night Guards, who celebrate him as the first Fate Arts Master to arise from their ranks.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian successfully advances from someone studying Fate Arts into a true Fate Arts Master. His successful forging proves his talent and strengthens his confidence in manipulating fate.
• He demonstrates considerable patience, caution, and technical mastery throughout the forging process.
• His realization about Life Buying shows his growing ability to analyze the loopholes and practical consequences of Fate Arts.
• Yu Ping remains openly greedy and curious about the gold and the forging process, but loyally guards the door.
• Han Anbo acts as a reliable assistant and protector, gathering materials, managing the crowd, and explaining the significance of Li Qingxian’s achievement.
• Dong Ying proudly supports Li Qingxian and reminds everyone that he had predicted Li Qingxian’s future success.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and achievement: The forging marks Li Qingxian’s transition into a higher level of power and status.
• Fate as something manipulable: The chapter explores the technical and contractual nature of buying, borrowing, and fishing for fate.
• Belonging and loyalty: Li Qingxian emphasizes that he is a Night Guard first and a Fate Arts Master second, showing that he has not forgotten his origins.
• Community pride: The Night Guards’ excitement reflects how meaningful it is for one of their own to achieve something usually associated with outsiders and elite practitioners.
• Power and danger: The crowd’s reaction and Han Anbo’s memories emphasize how rare and influential Fate Arts Masters are, especially during conflicts involving demons or rival grandmasters.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian relies on Han Anbo and Yu Ping to secure the room while he performs the dangerous forging ritual.
• Han Anbo returns with the required materials and later controls the crowd by explaining the situation and preventing interruptions.
• Yu Ping’s curiosity contrasts with Han Anbo’s practicality as both watch over Li Qingxian’s work.
• The gathered Night Guards congratulate Li Qingxian enthusiastically, expressing admiration and envy.
• Dong Ying publicly praises Li Qingxian and links his rise to the earlier miracle of saving her mother.
• In private, Han Anbo explains why the guards are so impressed, recalling the spectacular battles between Grand Fate Arts Masters and revealing that a Fate Arts Master once helped him recover from Eerie.

Chapter Summary: “The Fate Artifact Raises One’s Rank”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian asks Han Anbo about Eerie afflictions, learning that they resemble curses or poisons but are much more dangerous. Victims must follow strict rules, and dispelling an affliction requires finding the correct opportunity; a wrong choice can be fatal.
• Han Anbo warns that Fate Arts Masters are both skilled at dealing with Eerie afflictions and especially vulnerable to them.
• Li Qingxian is told to wait for confirmation of his advancement. He is then summoned by Zhou Chunfeng to attend the Directors’ Assembly Hall.
• The next morning, Li Qingxian travels with Zhou Chunfeng and numerous officials to the assembly. Their unusually respectful behavior makes clear that Li’s status has risen.
• They encounter Song Yanxue, the Left Deputy Commander and Director of the Demon-Hunting Office. She openly ignores Zhou Chunfeng, praises Li Qingxian, and invites him to join the Demon-Hunting Office.
• Inside the Directors’ Hall, Li initially assumes he should stand with the ordinary Tenth Rank officials and tries to hide in a corner.
• He Lei reveals that a Fate Arts Master’s authority is not merely one rank higher: a Fate Arts Master stands one rank above any official they meet. Thus, even as a Low Rank Fate Arts Master, Li has the status of a Middle Rank official and is entitled to sit in a rosewood round-backed chair.
• Li sits in the designated chair, amused by its comfort, while the officials react warmly. Ye Han watches him from among the lower-ranking officials, hiding his expression in the shadows.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian remains straightforward, modest, and somewhat socially unaware. He does not realize the full significance of becoming a Fate Arts Master and initially misunderstands his new status. His humorous reaction makes him more likable to the senior officials.
• Han Anbo acts as a cautious mentor, explaining the dangers surrounding Fate Arts Masters while deliberately withholding the surprise about Li’s elevated status.
• Zhou Chunfeng continues to support Li but also mischievously lets him discover his new privileges publicly. His calm response to Song Yanxue’s coldness suggests familiarity with their complicated history.
• Song Yanxue is introduced as a powerful, stern, and imposing female official. Though cold toward Zhou Chunfeng, she immediately recognizes Li’s potential and treats him favorably.
• Ye Han becomes visibly more conflicted and uneasy as Li’s status rises. His hidden expression suggests jealousy, concern, or resentment.
• He Lei helps Li understand the social and political meaning of his new rank.
• The senior officials increasingly accept Li as one of their own, viewing his candid behavior with amusement and approval.

Significant Themes

• Power and status: The creation of a Fate Artifact dramatically elevates Li’s official standing, showing that supernatural ability directly affects political and social hierarchy.
• Knowledge and hidden rules: Li’s misunderstanding reflects how advancement depends not only on power but also on knowing institutional customs and unwritten rules.
• Danger accompanying power: Fate Arts grant prestige but also expose practitioners to Eerie afflictions, emphasizing that greater ability brings greater risks.
• Humility versus recognition: Li still sees himself as an ordinary junior official, while others now treat him as a Middle Rank figure.
• Political relationships and past grievances: Song Yanxue’s hostility toward Zhou Chunfeng hints at an old family history that continues to affect present relationships.

Important Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Han Anbo: Their conversation establishes the dangers of Eerie afflictions and foreshadows the risks Li may face as a Fate Arts Master.
• Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng: Zhou escorts him to the assembly but intentionally withholds information about Li’s privileges, allowing the young man to embarrass himself before being corrected.
• Li Qingxian and Song Yanxue: Song publicly praises Li and recruits him, signaling that his new identity has attracted the attention of influential officials.
• Song Yanxue and Zhou Chunfeng: Their cold exchange reveals unresolved tension. Her mother had once failed to marry Zhou Chunfeng and suffered from the resulting regret, explaining Song’s hostility.
• Li Qingxian and He Lei: He Lei prevents Li from standing with the lower officials and explains the special authority granted by Fate Arts.
• Li Qingxian and Ye Han: Their silent exchange reflects the changing balance between them, with Ye Han now forced to observe Li’s rapid rise.

Chapter Summary: My Father Once Praised You

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Directors’ Hall holds an official assembly attended by senior commanders and officials of the Night Guard.
• Li Qingxian observes the leadership structure: Right Commander Yang Xiangshu, Left Deputy Commander Song Yanxue, and Right Deputy Commander Yu Xianhe are present, while the Left Commander is absent.
• The Guard Commander, Pine King—also known as the Coward King—arrives in an enormous, imposing sedan chair. Despite his intimidating size and rank, he has a genial, unassuming manner.
• Pine King recognizes Li Qingxian as the newly promoted Fate Arts Master and praises him as “a tiger father’s son.”
• Li Qingxian casually claims that his late father, Li Gangfeng, once praised Pine King. When Pine King asks what was said, Li must improvise a suitable compliment.
• Li presents the couplet: “The sea embraces a hundred rivers; tolerance makes greatness. A cliff rises a thousand fathoms; freedom from desire makes strength.”
• The officials enthusiastically praise the couplet, interpreting it as a perfect description of Pine King’s body, character, rank, and temperament. Pine King is delighted and orders several copies to be written and displayed.
• Impressed by Li’s apparent talent and his father’s endorsement, Pine King orders Song Yanxue to arrange for Li to participate in the next demon hunt.
• The rest of the meeting focuses on preparations for the upcoming demon hunt. Near the end, Pine King rests with his eyes closed.
• Cao Ming proposes granting Li a supplementary post or petitioning for a noble title now that Li has become a Fate Arts Master.
• Another official objects, arguing that Li’s status has not been verified by the Directorate of Celestial Observations or the Great Fate Sect, and that he already holds a regular Night Guard position. The issue remains unresolved.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates quick thinking and social adaptability. His improvised couplet wins Pine King’s favor, though he privately panics because he invented his father’s praise.
• Li becomes more cautious after drawing attention to himself, deliberately remaining quiet for the rest of the meeting.
• His promotion to Fate Arts Master significantly raises his status and makes him the subject of official discussion.
• Pine King is revealed to be powerful but non-ambitious and deeply uncomfortable with competition for fame or authority. The phrase “freedom from desire makes strength” resonates strongly with him because he never wanted the Guard Commander’s position.
• Song Yanxue is established as a senior and capable military official who receives Pine King’s order to arrange Li’s first demon hunt.
• Yu Xianhe appears genial and supportive, openly praising Li’s couplet.
• Yang Xiangshu, nicknamed “Mouthless Yang,” remains silent and unreadable throughout the assembly.
• Cao Ming recognizes Li’s advancement and seeks to secure him additional status within the official system.
• Zhou Chunfeng appears to suspect that Li’s story about his father’s praise may not be entirely genuine, unlike the other officials who accept it enthusiastically.

Significant Themes

• Political flattery and social maneuvering: Li’s invented praise becomes a powerful tool for gaining Pine King’s trust and advancing his position.
• Reputation and inherited influence: Li benefits from his father’s name, even though he must fabricate the specific compliment attributed to him.
• Appearance versus reality: The officials interpret the couplet as profound wisdom, while Li admits internally that he does not understand its classical origins.
• Power without ambition: Pine King’s authority contrasts with his personal desire for an idle, uncompetitive life, suggesting that those who avoid power may sometimes be entrusted with it.
• Bureaucratic legitimacy: Li’s new identity as a Fate Arts Master creates both opportunities and institutional doubts about verification and official recognition.
• Humility as strategy: After gaining Pine King’s attention, Li intentionally withdraws and listens quietly to avoid appearing overly ambitious.

Character Interactions

• Pine King directly tests Li by asking him to repeat his father’s opinion, forcing Li to improvise under pressure.
• Li’s flattering couplet creates an immediate bond between him and Pine King, leading to a concrete reward: assignment to the next demon hunt.
• The gathered officials reinforce Li’s success by praising the couplet and elevating its meaning, helping him gain credibility.
• Song Yanxue responds professionally to Pine King’s order concerning Li.
• Cao Ming’s proposal and another official’s objection reveal competing views of Li: one sees him as deserving advancement, while the other questions his credentials.
• Zhou Chunfeng’s puzzled reaction hints that he may understand Li’s deception better than the others.

Chapter Summary: “First Sight of a Fate Pattern”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Night Guard debates whether Li Qingxian should receive a high auxiliary position as a Fate Arts Master.
• Cao Ming supports promoting him, arguing that recognizing Li Qingxian will encourage other Fate Arts Masters within the Night Guard and prevent them from becoming too closely aligned with the Directorate of Celestial Observations.
• Ge Chao objects, claiming that the Night Guard lacks a reliable way to verify Fate Arts Masters and warning that anyone might falsely claim the title.
• Zhou Chunfeng challenges Ge Chao to provide a method of verification. Li Qingxian offers to demonstrate his mastery of Fate Observation and Qi Gazing.
• Coward King forces the issue by asking whether Ge Chao is willing to have his fate examined. When Ge Chao hesitates, Coward King temporarily promotes Li Qingxian to Subordinate Seventh Rank so that the difference in rank will not hinder the examination.
• Li Qingxian observes Ge Chao’s fate in front of the assembled officials using Dragon Appears, the Fate-Observing Technique, and the Heaven’s Mandate Instrument.
• He discovers that Ge Chao possesses several unusual Fate Stars and a concealed Fate Pattern involving concealment, betrayal, and potential future advancement.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates growing confidence and technical ability as a Fate Arts Master. Although he has limited practical experience with certain fate-reading methods, he successfully uses the more advanced Heaven’s Mandate Instrument to uncover hidden details.
• Ge Chao appears outwardly fair and composed rather than openly hostile. However, his fate reveals a complicated and potentially dangerous background, suggesting that his opposition to Li Qingxian may not be simple bureaucratic caution.
• Coward King openly favors Li Qingxian and protects him politically by temporarily granting him a higher rank. His intervention ensures that Li Qingxian can prove himself publicly.
• Zhou Chunfeng supports Li Qingxian and quietly reassures him, showing trust in his abilities.
• Wei Yong is nervous that Li Qingxian suspects him of manipulating events, while Ye Han remains detached and avoids involvement.

Fate Discoveries

• Ge Chao’s Heavenly Fate is Forging a Fine-Iron Sword, indicating a fierce, unyielding nature but also an unstable rise and fall because the metal lacks sufficient furnace fire.
• His Human Fate is Gold Glittering Beneath the Stream, suggesting early family prosperity followed by decline.
• His Young Adult Fate Ground is empty, implying a lack of achievement during that period and raising questions about how he eventually reached Seventh Rank.
• Li Qingxian detects an initially invisible Fate Mist, which the Heaven’s Mandate Instrument disperses and reveals as a complex Fate Pattern.
• The most alarming Fate Star is Outcast Harmful Horse, a famous sign of betrayal, false accusation, or a major change caused by an outside force.
• Ge Chao also possesses three concealment-related Fate Stars:

Sparrow Hiding in Its Nest

Tiny Scales Hiding in the Grass

Chameleon Concealment

• These Fate Stars reinforce one another, making Ge Chao unusually difficult to notice or suspect. Together, they may eventually form a complete Four Aspects concealment pattern capable of producing a Fate Spirit.
• The Water and Wood elements support one another, suggesting strong middle-aged growth and potentially limitless prospects. However, Outcast Harmful Horse partially disrupts the pattern and may ultimately damage it.

Significant Themes

• Proof versus suspicion: Li Qingxian must publicly establish his legitimacy in a political environment where accusations and doubts are common.
• Hidden identities and deception: Ge Chao’s concealed Fate Pattern reflects how appearances can disguise motives, loyalties, and danger.
• Political protection and institutional rivalry: The Night Guard’s relationship with the Directorate of Celestial Observations influences the debate over Li Qingxian’s promotion.
• Fate as both destiny and instability: Ge Chao’s Fate Pattern contains both great potential and the possibility of betrayal or collapse.
• Observation and perception: The chapter emphasizes that true insight requires specialized methods; even Li Qingxian cannot initially perceive Ge Chao’s full fate without using the Heaven’s Mandate Instrument.

Character Interactions

• Cao Ming and Ge Chao debate whether Li Qingxian deserves promotion.
• Zhou Chunfeng presses Ge Chao for a fair standard of proof and later encourages Li Qingxian privately.
• Coward King decisively intervenes, turning Ge Chao’s challenge into an opportunity for Li Qingxian to demonstrate his skill.
• Li Qingxian and Ge Chao exchange polite, formal words, but Li Qingxian’s examination reveals that Ge Chao may possess hidden motives or a dangerous history.
• The chapter ends with Li Qingxian withdrawing from Ge Chao’s Fate Mansion, now aware that the seemingly ordinary official conceals a rare and potentially threatening Fate Pattern.

Chapter Summary: “The Big Fish Leaps Out”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Fate Observation, Li Qingxian uses the Heaven’s Mandate Instrument to investigate Ge Chao further. He discovers that Ge Chao’s Fate Projection is being shielded by a powerful force, suggesting backing from a major sect, clan, or state.
• Three Fate Projections emerge:
  1. Ge Chao at age seven: His father is arrested and removed from office, causing the family’s decline.
  2. Ge Chao meeting a masked superior: The superior reveals that he serves the “Nether Lord,” gives Ge Chao 30,000 taels, and instructs him to lie low until a larger plan begins.
  3. Ge Chao receiving an order in the Imperial Prison Bureau: A jailer secretly hands him a message commanding him to obstruct the newly promoted Fate Arts Master.
• Li memorizes the masked man’s voice, appearance, and distinctive mole, as well as the jailer’s appearance.
• Rather than expose Ge Chao immediately, Li reasons that Ge Chao is only a minor operative. Arresting him would alert the mastermind and destroy the chance to uncover the larger conspiracy.
• Li deliberately performs an incomplete Fate calculation. He accurately identifies Ge Chao’s childhood prosperity and his father’s downfall, but makes false claims about Ge Chao’s marriage and relationship with his father.
• Ge Chao publicly refutes the latter predictions, making Li appear to have failed. Coward King declares the result a draw and adjourns court.
• Officials leave with mixed opinions. Some believe Li is overrated, while others attribute his mistakes to youth or suspect a larger political scheme.
• Li pretends to be devastated so that others will underestimate him. Once inside Chunfeng Residence, he drops the act and tells Zhou Chunfeng that Ge Chao is deeply suspicious.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian: Demonstrates strategic maturity and political awareness. Instead of pursuing immediate recognition, he sacrifices his reputation to preserve the investigation and draw out Ge Chao’s superiors. He also proves himself capable of deception and controlled acting.
• Ge Chao: Is revealed as a covert agent connected to the mysterious Nether Lord. His calm denial of Li’s calculations shows that he is trained to conceal his past and protect the organization behind him.
• Zhou Chunfeng: Recognizes Li’s performance immediately and understands that Li is pretending to be discouraged. His continued support confirms his trust in Li.
• Coward King: Handles the public confrontation cautiously, declaring a draw rather than humiliating Li or allowing the situation to escalate.
• Ye Han and Wei Yong: Their reactions reveal the political atmosphere. Wei Yong seems impressed by Li’s performance, while Ye Han uses the opportunity to distance himself from Li and cast doubt on his abilities.
• Song Yanxue: Remains observant and silent, suggesting that she may suspect there is more to the incident than Li’s apparent failure.

Significant Themes

• Short-term victory versus long-term strategy: Li rejects the obvious satisfaction of exposing Ge Chao in favor of uncovering the larger conspiracy.
• Deception and performance: The chapter emphasizes that survival in court politics requires controlling appearances. Li intentionally appears incompetent, while Ge Chao hides his true loyalties behind a respectable official identity.
• Hidden power and conspiracy: Ge Chao’s Fate being shielded indicates that powerful forces are protecting him, while the references to the Nether Lord point to a much broader threat.
• Reputation as a tool: Li willingly damages his reputation because being underestimated is safer and more advantageous than appearing too capable.
• Fate versus human calculation: Although Fate Arts reveal hidden truths, Li must still interpret the information intelligently and act according to political realities.

Character Interactions

• Li Qingxian and Ge Chao: Their courtroom exchange is a psychological contest. Li probes Ge Chao’s past while deliberately allowing him to discredit the calculation.
• Li Qingxian and the officials: The officials’ reactions show how quickly public opinion turns when a rising figure appears to fail. Their consolation further reinforces Li’s false image of weakness.
• Li Qingxian and Zhou Chunfeng: Their private conversation reveals mutual trust. Zhou sees through Li’s act, while Li immediately shares his suspicion that Ge Chao is connected to something much larger.
• Ge Chao and his hidden superiors: The projections establish that Ge Chao serves an organized faction led by the mysterious Nether Lord and has been specifically assigned to obstruct Li.

Chapter Summary: “Casting the Net”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Chunfeng realizes that Li Qingxian’s report about Ge Chao suggests a much larger conspiracy and takes him to meet the Coward King, the Chief Guard Envoy of the Imperial Prison Bureau.
• They enter the Coward King’s compound and wait while he consumes an enormous series of meals, reinforcing his reputation for extraordinary gluttony.
• Li Qingxian explains that he deliberately pretended to make an inaccurate prediction in the Directors’ Hall. In reality, he discovered that:
  • Ge Chao is a spy planted in the Imperial Prison Bureau.
  • Ge Chao met three months earlier with a suspected high-ranking court official connected to the Nether Lord.
  • The official wore old official boots, had a mole on his right ring finger, and gave Ge Chao thirty thousand taels.
  • A prison guard is secretly passing information to Ge Chao.
  • Ge Chao was ordered to remain hidden until a major future event.
• Li further reveals that Ge Chao possesses several concealment-related Fate Stars and that the unusual “Outcast Harmful Horse” Fate Star was artificially implanted approximately thirteen years earlier.
• The Coward King accepts Li’s testimony and plans to have him identify the informant prison guard and later confirm the suspected official.
• Li claims that his unusual accuracy comes from possessing the rare Dragon Appears Spirit Eye, a talent associated with legendary Grand Fate Arts Masters.
• The Coward King promises to restore Li’s reputation and rewards him with a basin of fruit.
• Back at Chunfeng Residence, Li proposes starting a small business within the Imperial Prison Bureau to earn money and deliberately cultivate a less spotless reputation.
• Zhou Chunfeng approves, suggesting that Li exploit his connection to Zhang Fugui, the shameless Director of the Imperial Prison Bureau, though he jokingly warns that Zhang may resist repaying favors.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates increasing strategic sophistication. He has deliberately sacrificed his reputation to lure out a larger conspiracy and now presents himself as both a useful investigator and an unconventional Fate Arts Master.
• Zhou Chunfeng shifts from confusion to trust and support. He recognizes that Li’s claims are serious and personally escorts him to the Coward King, later helping him find a practical way to protect himself politically.
• The Coward King is introduced as an intimidating but comical figure: physically enormous, extravagantly gluttonous, and surrounded by highly ranked guards. Beneath the absurdity, he is perceptive, patient, and politically decisive.
• Ge Chao is revealed to be more than a simple opponent. He is a planted spy connected to the Nether Lord’s faction and part of a long-term scheme.
• Zhang Fugui is characterized indirectly as shameless, deeply indebted to Zhou Chunfeng, and potentially difficult to control, setting up future comic and political complications.

Significant Themes

• Strategic deception and self-sacrifice: Li intentionally damages his own reputation to make enemies underestimate him and draw out hidden conspirators.
• Conspiracy and infiltration: The Imperial Prison Bureau contains spies and informants linked to a powerful hostile faction, suggesting an organized threat within the court.
• Power concealed beneath appearances: The Coward King’s ridiculous eating habits contrast with his authority and sharp judgment, while Li’s apparent incompetence conceals exceptional abilities.
• Reputation as a political tool: Li and Zhou recognize that appearing too perfect or talented can make Li a target. A deliberately flawed public image may offer protection.
• Mentorship and institutional protection: Zhou acts as Li’s advocate, helping him navigate powerful officials and convert his dangerous abilities into political security.
• Humor amid danger: The Coward King’s meals and the banter about Zhang Fugui’s shamelessness lighten an otherwise serious chapter about espionage and court intrigue.

Important Character Interactions

• Li and Zhou Chunfeng: They cooperate closely, with Zhou trusting Li’s judgment and helping him approach higher authority. Their conversation also shows a comfortable, teasing relationship.
• Li and the Coward King: Li presents carefully prepared intelligence, while the Coward King tests its credibility through questions about certainty and Fate Stars. The meeting ends with official recognition of Li’s value.
• Zhou and the Coward King: Zhou vouches for Li’s character and reasoning, helping persuade the Coward King to act on the intelligence.
• Li and Zhang Fugui, indirectly: Li plans to operate within Zhang’s bureau, while Zhou’s comments imply that their similar shamelessness may make them compatible—or create further trouble.

Chapter Summary: Black Yinwood Waist Token

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian asks Zhou Chunfeng for help learning Thunder Arts and requests a higher-ranking Imperial Prison Bureau waist token for his business dealings.
• Zhou gives him his own Director of Affairs token, made of Black Yinwood. Although surprised by Li’s boldness, Zhou permits him to use it, understanding that Fate Arts Masters often manipulate official connections for their own purposes.
• At the Street Patrol Office, Chief He Lei publicly defends Li’s identity as a Fate Arts Master and warns everyone not to insult or obstruct him. The staff enthusiastically support Li, especially because he saved Dong Ying’s mother.
• Li returns with a washbasin full of fruit, which the younger Night Guards immediately devour. He Lei reassures Li that Ge Chao’s earlier doubts were probably caused by Li’s youth and inexperience rather than hostility.
• Instead of cultivating, Li takes Yu Ping and Han Anbo to the Imperial Prison Bureau to begin arranging a Life Buying ritual. His Director of Affairs token shocks both the guards and his companions, making it clear that the prison officials will soon be on alert.
• Li inspects the distillery, speaks with the eunuch Jing Guan, and then seeks out Fan Xing, a low-ranking prison guard whose former patron has fallen from power.
• Li offers Fan Xing a direct choice: cooperate and prosper, or be replaced. Fan Xing accepts, hoping to improve his position and provide better for his family.
• Li reveals that he wants to buy a prisoner’s life through Fate Arts. Fan Xing confirms that such transactions are unofficially tolerated and agrees to cooperate without demanding payment in advance.
• The chapter ends with Li asking Fan Xing to explain the prisoners and affairs under his supervision.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian becomes increasingly bold and pragmatic. He openly exploits Zhou Chunfeng’s authority, uses the powerful waist token to gain access, and confidently recruits people for his plans.
• His ambitions extend beyond personal cultivation: he is building influence through the distillery, Fate Arts, the Street Patrol Office, and the Imperial Prison Bureau.
• Zhou Chunfeng demonstrates trust in Li while warning him indirectly not to cause excessive trouble. His willingness to lend the token shows strong support for Li’s unconventional methods.
• He Lei publicly recognizes Li as a valuable member of the Street Patrol Office and protects his reputation. His attitude reflects growing institutional acceptance of Li’s abilities.
• Yu Ping is portrayed as excitable and opportunistic, eagerly joining Li simply for the chance to witness Life Buying.
• Han Anbo remains cautious and practical, warning Li about prison security and silently evaluating the risks of his plans.
• Fan Xing is revealed as ambitious but desperate. His fallen patron and difficult family situation make him receptive to Li’s offer, and he chooses loyalty in hopes of improving his future.

Significant Themes

• Authority and reputation: Li’s Fate Arts identity is becoming widely accepted, and official recognition gives him influence beyond his formal rank.
• Using connections and power: The chapter emphasizes how status, tokens, patronage, and institutional relationships determine access and opportunity.
• Ambition and social mobility: Fan Xing’s decision reflects the desire of lower-ranking officials to rise through alliances with powerful figures.
• Pragmatism over morality: Life Buying is treated as a questionable but tolerated practice. Li approaches it as a practical tool rather than a moral dilemma.
• Loyalty and protection: He Lei’s defense of Li and Zhou’s support show that Li is gaining allies who will shield him from opposition.
• Youth versus capability: Some officials doubt Li because of his age, but his actions and Fate Arts talent increasingly prove that he can handle serious affairs.

Character Interactions

• Li and Zhou Chunfeng: Their exchange is informal and trusting, with Li shamelessly requesting favors and Zhou reluctantly indulging him.
• Li and He Lei: He Lei reassures Li about Ge Chao’s doubts and promises to celebrate his return from demon hunting, showing camaraderie and institutional support.
• Li and Yu Ping: Their relationship is energetic and somewhat exploitative; Yu Ping eagerly follows Li because he wants to witness the rare Life Buying process.
• Li and Han Anbo: Han serves as a cautious adviser, drawing attention to security concerns and observing Li’s increasingly daring behavior.
• Li and Fan Xing: Li uses a blunt, transactional approach, while Fan Xing responds with submission after recognizing the opportunity. Their alliance is built on mutual benefit rather than affection.
• Street Patrol Office personnel: Their enthusiastic defense of Li shows that his actions have earned genuine loyalty among the younger Night Guards.

Chapter Summary: “Beginning to Buy Lives”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fan Xing explains the Imperial Prison Bureau to Li Qingxian, emphasizing that low-ranking clerks perform exhausting, dangerous work while powerful deputy officials control the prison. He also lists the thirty-two prisoners in Cell C-7 and their backgrounds.
• Li learns that Fate Arts Masters can “buy” prisoners’ lives by taking their Fate Molds. In exchange, prisoners are usually transferred to comfortable A-grade cells and may eventually regain their freedom.
• Most prisoners are willing to sell because their Fate Molds are useless or bring only misfortune. However, prisoners with stronger backgrounds or hopes of escape—such as Pang Mingjing—may resist.
• Li announces that he intends to buy several Fate Molds rather than just one, describing his approach as “small profits and quick turnover.” Han Anbo explains that additional Fate Molds normally require a costly Fate Boat, which Li does not yet possess.
• Li recruits Fan Xing as his intermediary, presenting himself as acting under Zhou Chunfeng’s authority. Fan Xing happily accepts the role, believing he will serve as Li’s “glove.”
• Fan Xing leads Li, Han Anbo, and the guards into Cell C-7. He describes the prison’s different grades, including the brutal underground Well Prisons and the heavily guarded West Courtyard.
• The prisoners are forced out of their cells. Li’s presence and Zhou Chunfeng’s token intimidate them severely:
  • Pang Mingjing recognizes Li’s rapid rise and suspects he is using prisoners to practice Fate Arts.
  • Tao Zhi displays both fear and hatred.
  • Hong Cheng collapses in terror upon seeing Li, even losing control of himself and fainting.
• Li offers A-grade treatment to anyone willing to sell their life, but no prisoner immediately volunteers. Fan Xing threatens them with confinement, lack of fresh air, and eventually starvation. Han Anbo encourages him to increase the punishment to seven days, placing further pressure on the prisoners.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates growing confidence, strategic manipulation, and ambition. He uses Zhou Chunfeng’s authority to intimidate the prisoners and intends to acquire multiple Fate Molds despite his limited cultivation and lack of a Fate Boat.
• Fan Xing becomes increasingly eager to serve Li. He recognizes Li’s influence and eagerly adopts the role of intermediary, using threats and cruelty to force the prisoners into compliance.
• Han Anbo continues acting as Li’s discreet supporter. He understands Li’s real strategy, silently approves of his manipulation, and helps strengthen the pressure on the prisoners while pretending to be harmless.
• Pang Mingjing becomes more wary of Li. Having witnessed Li’s sudden advancement, he suspects that Li is treating imprisoned people as experimental material rather than acting out of generosity.
• Tao Zhi reveals continuing resentment and fear toward Li.
• Hong Cheng’s extreme reaction illustrates how terrifying Li’s reputation has become among the prisoners.

Significant Themes

• Power and coercion: Although Li presents life-buying as a voluntary exchange, the prisoners’ choice is heavily shaped by imprisonment, threats, and deprivation.
• Political authority as protection: Li relies on Zhou Chunfeng’s token to borrow the authority of a powerful official, showing how influence can matter more than personal strength.
• Exploitation and dehumanization: Prisoners are treated as sources of Fate Molds and as commodities, while the prison bureaucracy profits from their suffering.
• Fear as a tool of control: Li’s reputation, Fan Xing’s threats, and the prison’s brutal system make obedience easier than resistance.
• Ambition and calculated risk: Li seeks rapid advancement through acquiring multiple Fate Molds, even though his cultivation and resources are still limited.
• Moral ambiguity: The promised A-grade cells may genuinely improve the prisoners’ lives, but the transaction is conducted through intimidation and institutional abuse.

Important Character Interactions

• Li and Fan Xing: Li manipulates Fan Xing into becoming his intermediary by implying that he too serves higher-ranking officials. Fan Xing responds with enthusiasm and loyalty.
• Li and Han Anbo: Han acts as a knowledgeable adviser, clarifying the mechanics of Fate Molds and Fate Boats. He also quietly supports Li’s deceptive strategy.
• Li and the prisoners: Li offers them improved treatment in exchange for their lives, but his authority and Fan Xing’s threats make the offer coercive.
• Pang Mingjing and Li: Pang recognizes Li’s suspiciously rapid rise and views him with concern, suggesting a deeper awareness of Li’s intentions.
• Fan Xing and the prisoners: Fan Xing uses intimidation and punishment to force them toward accepting Li’s offer, reinforcing his role as the prison’s brutal enforcer.

Chapter Summary: “Twin-Curse Great Ill-Omen”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian offers the Imperial Prison’s inmates a chance to sell their lives through Fate Contracts. In exchange, he promises to move them into better Class A rooms and possibly help secure their release.
• Fan Xing aggressively pressures the prisoners, but Li Qingxian clarifies that participation must be voluntary and warns Fan Xing not to mistreat anyone who refuses.
• Twelve prisoners agree to proceed. Li Qingxian has Han Anbo prepare the Fate Contracts, instructs the prisoners to swear that they are sincere, and warns that anyone who sabotages his Fate Arts will suffer severe consequences.
• Fan Xing introduces the prisoners individually. Li Qingxian uses Fate Observation and Qi Gazing to examine them.
• The first prisoner he studies is a seventeen-year-old tavern worker named Shen Goudan, who has spent over a year in prison after being implicated in a politically sensitive case.
• Li Qingxian discovers that Shen’s fate is exceptionally bleak. His Fate Projection shows repeated poverty, abandonment, famine, exploitation, and imprisonment, culminating in his projected death from illness shortly after turning eighteen.
• Within Shen’s Fate Mansion, Li Qingxian identifies two disastrous Heavenly Fate Stars: “Parched Land, Withered Seed” and “Duckweed in a Chaotic Age.” Together, they form a rare and especially ominous configuration called the Twin-Curse Great Ill-Omen Mold.
• Shen explains that another Fate Arts Master previously rejected him as worthless. Unlike that master, Li Qingxian is willing to accept Shen’s life, and Shen eagerly agrees to sign the contract.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian demonstrates both political caution and moral restraint. Although he is making a profitable and potentially exploitative deal, he insists that no prisoner be forced and promises to honor the contracts. His willingness to help even those with terrible fates reveals compassion and confidence in his abilities.
• Fan Xing acts as Li Qingxian’s aggressive intermediary, manipulating the prisoners into considering the offer. He remains fearful and obedient toward Li after being warned not to abuse the inmates.
• Han Anbo takes on a practical supporting role by preparing the Fate Contracts.
• Shen Goudan is presented as a deeply broken but fundamentally decent young man. Years of deprivation have destroyed his hope, yet Li’s offer gives him his first real chance at survival. His eagerness to sell his life reflects both desperation and resignation.
• Pang Mingjing and the other dissenters refuse to participate, establishing that not all prisoners trust Li or are willing to risk themselves in his Fate Arts.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation versus choice: The prisoners’ desperate circumstances make the transaction morally complicated, but Li attempts to preserve their agency by making consent explicit.
• Fate and social injustice: Shen’s terrible destiny is not caused by personal wickedness. His suffering comes from poverty, political turmoil, famine, bureaucratic neglect, and the indifference of powerful people.
• The value of an “ordinary” life: Shen has been dismissed as worthless because he possesses no status or talent, yet Li sees his fate as meaningful and potentially useful.
• Compassion amid calculation: Li is studying the prisoners for his own purposes, but he also recognizes their humanity and offers benefits beyond the immediate contract.
• The burden of cosmic misfortune: The imagery of graves, dry earth, withered seeds, black water, and drifting duckweed emphasizes how completely Shen’s life has been trapped by bad fortune.

Character Interactions

• Li and Fan Xing clash over how to persuade the prisoners: Fan uses intimidation and emotional pressure, while Li insists on voluntary agreement.
• Li reassures the prisoners directly, promising improved living conditions and warning them that he will suffer the consequences if he violates the Fate Contract.
• Han Anbo cooperates with Li by drafting the contracts.
• Li’s examination of Shen shifts from formal evaluation to sympathy. He questions Shen about his name, history, and willingness to participate, while Shen responds with humility and despair.
• Shen’s enthusiastic consent creates the chapter’s emotional conclusion: a young man previously rejected as worthless finally finds someone willing to accept him.

Chapter Summary: “Fate-Taking Arts”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Qingxian offers to buy all of Shen Goudan’s Fate Stars in exchange for securing his release from the Imperial Prison Bureau.
• Shen willingly signs a Fate Contract using his fingerprint. Li Qingxian invokes Zhou Chunfeng’s influence, claiming that Zhang Fugui owes Zhou one of many favors, and sends Fan Xing to obtain an official release document.
• While waiting, Li Qingxian begins cultivating the Fate-Taking Arts. Using a Spirit-Awakening Talisman and his golden Fate Fishing Rod, he enters Shen Goudan’s Fate Mansion.
• He repeatedly tries to hook Shen’s Heavenly Fate Star, “Parched Land, Withered Seed,” but the powers of Shen’s Fate Mansion and Fate Mold interfere. After many attempts, Li finally removes the star.
• Li discovers that Fate Stars can be stored above the artificial mountain in his Fate Pool, meaning he does not need to immediately construct a costly Fate Star Ship. He chooses to preserve the star as bait rather than use it immediately.
• Fan Xing returns with a release document bearing the seals of three Imperial Prison Bureau officials. Shen is officially freed.
• Shen, overwhelmed by relief and gratitude, repeatedly kowtows and breaks down crying. Li orders the others to help him up and asks Han Anbo to find him honest work.
• After seeing that Shen’s fate has changed from a grave mound and White Bone to fertile black earth in the Gestation stage, Li confirms that Shen’s prospects have improved.
• Li then takes Shen’s second Fate Star, “Duckweed in a Chaotic Age,” completing the process much more quickly due to his earlier experience.

Character Developments

• Li Qingxian: Demonstrates boldness, political cunning, compassion, and growing mastery of Fate Arts. He uses Zhou Chunfeng’s authority without hesitation, successfully manipulates the prison bureaucracy, and learns important details about storing and extracting Fate Stars.
• Shen Goudan: Changes from a frightened, imprisoned youth into someone given a genuine chance at a new life. His overwhelming gratitude reveals his desperation and good nature. His altered fate suggests the beginning of a more hopeful future.
• Han Anbo: Shows loyalty by supporting Li, drawing his weapon to protect him, helping Shen after his release, and agreeing to find him employment.
• Yu Ping and the jailers: Follow Li’s lead, guarding him while he cultivates and assisting with Shen’s release.
• Fan Xing: Initially hesitates because of the political risks, but ultimately obeys Li and comes to admire his audacity and bureaucratic shamelessness.

Significant Themes

• Fate versus human intervention: Although Fate Mold and other forces resist change, Li proves that fate can be actively seized and altered through skill and persistence.
• Compassion and power: Li uses his political influence and supernatural abilities to save someone powerless, showing that authority can be used benevolently.
• The cost of freedom: Shen gains release, but must surrender his Fate Stars. The chapter raises questions about whether personal destiny can be treated as a commodity.
• Persistence and mastery: Li’s repeated failures emphasize that Fate Arts require patience, precision, and immense mystical power.
• Transformation and renewal: Shen’s fate changes from imagery of death and barrenness to fertile soil in the Gestation stage, symbolizing recovery and the possibility of rebirth.

Important Character Interactions

• Li and Shen establish the Fate Contract, creating a supernatural bond based on Shen’s agreement to sell his Fate Stars.
• Li pressures Fan Xing into acting by using Zhou Chunfeng’s token and Zhang Fugui’s supposed debt, while Fan Xing worries about the consequences.
• Han Anbo and Yu Ping protect Li during the ritual and later physically support Shen when he collapses in gratitude.
• Li reassures and encourages Shen, treating him with dignity rather than as merely a source of Fate Stars.
• Li privately explains the bureaucratic loophole to Fan Xing, making clear that the Imperial Prison Bureau—not Li personally—is responsible for Shen’s release.