Chapter Summary: “After All the Twists and Turns”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The system tells Shen Mo that once it reaches maximum level, it will be able to locate the Heavenly Dao. If the world falls into turmoil, the Heavenly Dao will disperse and return to the World Tree, allowing them to find it.
• Amid violent waves and chaos aboard the ship, Shen Mo prepares to leave. He stores the obstructing tables away and is approached by his sister, Shen Yue.
• Shen Yue silently understands that Shen Mo must undertake something dangerous. She gives him a golden Godhead, believing he will need it, and embraces him while urging him to be careful.
• Shen Yue asks Su Ze to protect Shen Mo. Su Ze jokingly—but sincerely—declares that protecting Shen Mo, whom he calls his wife, is his responsibility. Shen Mo stops him from making ominous statements about dying.
• A nearby ship is overturned by the violent sea. The ability users thrown into the water are immediately attacked and killed by Mutant Beasts, turning the sea red with blood.
• As the surrounding ability users fight the Mutant Beasts, Su Ze decides there is no time to wait. He carries Shen Mo and jumps into the sea, asking Shen Yue to cover for them.
• Shen Yue is alarmed by their reckless departure but quickly suppresses her fear and joins the battle. She brutally kills a giant Mutant Beast with one punch, retrieves its Crystal Core, and continues attacking others to collect more cores for Shen Mo.
• Shen Mo, unaware of Shen Yue’s savage fighting, examines the Godhead she gave him. He wonders how it might help him and suspects it could be connected to locating the World Tree.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Shows deep emotional attachment to Shen Yue and anxiety about their separation. Though overwhelmed and nearly unable to speak, he reassures her and accepts the Godhead, beginning to consider its possible connection to the World Tree.
• Shen Yue: Demonstrates exceptional perception, recognizing Shen Mo’s intentions without demanding explanations. Her loving, protective side is contrasted with her ruthless combat ability. She secretly gathers Crystal Cores for Shen Mo while trying to preserve his idealized image of her.
• Su Ze: Reinforces his devotion to Shen Mo and willingness to protect him at any cost. His playful teasing contrasts with his decisive actions, as he immediately takes Shen Mo into the sea to continue their mission.
• The System: Provides the crucial strategic information that the Heavenly Dao will return to the World Tree during a crisis, giving Shen Mo and Su Ze a possible path forward.

Significant Themes

• Familial love and sacrifice: Shen Yue accepts Shen Mo’s departure despite her fear, offering both emotional support and a potentially vital artifact.
• Protection and devotion: Both Shen Yue and Su Ze are determined to safeguard Shen Mo, though they express it differently—Shen Yue through quiet care and Su Ze through bold action.
• Hidden strength: Shen Yue’s gentle, composed demeanor conceals her overwhelming brutality and combat skill.
• Separation and uncertainty: The farewell emphasizes the danger of the mission and the characters’ inability to know whether they will return safely.
• Hope amid catastrophe: Despite the violent destruction around them, the Godhead and the information about the World Tree suggest that a solution to the world’s crisis may still exist.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yue and Shen Mo share a quiet, emotional farewell in which she gives him the Godhead and encourages him to be careful.
• Shen Yue and Su Ze exchange teasing but serious words about his responsibility to protect Shen Mo.
• Shen Mo humorously prevents Su Ze from “raising a death flag,” reinforcing their affectionate and playful relationship.
• After Su Ze and Shen Mo leave, Shen Yue channels her worry into ferocious combat, secretly fighting to support her brother.

Chapter Summary: “Relying... on Me?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo and the system follow the Godhead’s faint guidance to locate the hidden World Tree, but the surrounding sea appears empty and the World Tree’s aura cannot be detected.
• The Godhead reveals the presence of a concealed space. Su Ze uses Divine Power to dispel the Black Mist covering it and opens a passage through the water-like barrier.
• Inside, they find the nearly withered World Tree, whose roots are being drained by the giant octopus, Jiu Yuan.
• Su Ze warns Shen Mo not to touch the octopus because it is indiscriminately absorbing surrounding power. Shen Mo produces an Obsidian Metal Chain designed to counter its devouring ability, but Su Ze takes it and binds Jiu Yuan himself.
• Jiu Yuan continues clinging tightly to Edric, nearly suffocating him. Shen Mo stops Su Ze from restraining him further and urges them to focus on saving the World Tree.
• Su Ze explains that the World Tree was created from half of a Godhead during an ancient deal. The other half was placed in Shen Mo’s soul by his sister, meaning the Godhead around Shen Mo’s neck is only half of the original power.
• Although this Godhead can save the World Tree, the god involved in the original deal—Jiu Li—would normally need to activate it. However, Jiu Li has returned to his original body and remains asleep.
• With the world running out of time, Su Ze tells Shen Mo that he must use the Godhead himself. Because it has been nourished within Shen Mo’s soul and carries his aura, he is the most suitable person to save the World Tree.
• The system discovers two abnormal energy points near the tree. Su Ze identifies them as hidden realms or opportunities gathered by the World Tree for its world.
• With Su Ze’s Divine Power enhancing his vision, Shen Mo recognizes one of the hidden spaces as Changxing Village, the place they previously passed through.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo struggles with self-doubt, especially when Su Ze tells him that the fate of the world depends on him. However, he begins to accept that his connection to the Godhead makes him uniquely qualified.
• Su Ze demonstrates increased strength and authority after recovering more memories from his original body and gaining access to Divine Power. He acts protectively toward Shen Mo while also teasing and deliberately provoking him.
• Jiu Li is revealed to be recovering in his original body rather than disappearing, though his absence creates a serious crisis because his power is needed to restore the World Tree.
• Jiu Yuan remains fiercely possessive of Edric and continues draining the World Tree despite being restrained.
• The system proves useful by locating the concealed energy points and identifying the hidden spaces as secret realms containing concentrated worldly fortune.

Significant Themes

• Trust and reliance: Shen Mo must overcome his belief that he is too weak and learn to rely on his own unique connection to the Godhead.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: With Jiu Li unavailable and time running out, Shen Mo is forced to accept responsibility for saving the world.
• Power and compatibility: The characters’ abilities interact according to their attributes; Shen Mo’s and Jiu Yuan’s devouring powers could conflict, while Su Ze’s Divine Power can suppress and control the octopus.
• Hidden worlds and destiny: The secret realms represent opportunities and fortune accumulated by the World Tree, suggesting that the world’s fate is connected to people capable of discovering them.
• Protection and possessiveness: Su Ze protects Shen Mo, while Jiu Yuan’s obsessive grip on Edric contrasts with Su Ze’s more controlled but still intimate behavior.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo depends on the system for guidance, but the system can only determine the World Tree’s general location.
• Su Ze reassures Shen Mo, holds his hand, opens the barrier, and repeatedly positions himself between Shen Mo and danger.
• Su Ze teases Shen Mo by taking the chain from him and wrapping it around his own wrist, causing Shen Mo to react with both alarm and attraction.
• Shen Mo worries that Jiu Li may have disappeared; Su Ze comforts him physically and clarifies that Jiu Li is merely asleep in his original body.
• Su Ze insists that Shen Mo is capable of using the Godhead, directly challenging Shen Mo’s insecurity.
• The system and Su Ze work together to identify the two hidden realms, while Shen Mo recognizes Changxing Village within one of them.

Chapter Summary: Fixation

Key Plot Points

• Shen Mo realizes the "paradise" he saw before was secretly absorbing world fortune (energy) for the Evil God Jiu Yuan.
• Su Ze explains Jiu Yuan's behavior: he needs massive energy to remain in this world and avoid returning to the Abyss, but siphons only "snack-sized" amounts so the World Tree doesn't wither—essentially "slacking off" rather than consuming everything.
• Su Ze discovers a ball of light on the World Tree that is Jiu Yuan's fixation—a weakness Evil Gods guard closely. Since Jiu Yuan sealed his own memories, his fixation was left exposed beside his original body.
• Their plan: enter the Fixation World, steal its energy (time moves faster there—years inside equal seconds outside), and use it to revive the World Tree.
• They successfully invade the fixation, but an unexpected twist occurs: the fixation was born from two people's fixations, causing them to be separated and reborn for many years.
• Shen Mo reincarnates as Duke Molbert, an orphaned noble who survives frequent assassination attempts from illegitimate siblings seeking his inheritance. He regains his memories after an attack.
• His husband (Brother Tian/System) is unaccounted for in this world.
• The visiting Third Prince has Edric's face, confirming a persistent connection between worlds.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Embraces the plan without guilt ("those who steal from others will eventually be stolen from themselves"); shows adaptation, combat skill, and sharp instinct. He's initially disoriented upon memory recovery but quickly reassembles his situation.
• Su Ze: Acts as strategist, using his original body's memories to analyze Jiu Yuan; cleverly identifies the weakness no one else would spot.

Significant Themes

• Fixation as a fatal flaw: Jiu Yuan's obsessive fixation (sealed memories) leaves his greatest weakness exposed.
• Reciprocal justice: Taking energy from a thief has no moral burden.
• Fate and connection: Edric appearing again suggests predestined bonds that transcend worlds.
• Memory and identity: Shen Mo's recovered memories split between knowing himself and navigating a new body/political reality.

Character Interactions

• Su Ze ↔ Shen Mo: Synergistic partnership; Su Ze provides information and a plan, Shen Mo follows through.
• Shen Mo ↔ Butler: Royal/noble protocol with an unassuming servant who reports important visitors.
• Shen Mo ↔ Third Prince (Edric): A revealed familiar face across worlds—"I knew we could have been friends if not for opposing factions"—anticipating a complicated dynamic in this new incarnation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Edric, the Third Prince, visits Shen Mo after hearing that he was attacked again. Their teasing conversation reveals that they consider each other their only true friends, despite Edric’s difficult position within the royal family.
• Edric secretly tells Shen Mo that he has discovered a “magical gateway” containing a creature only he can see. He shows Shen Mo a parchment scroll marked with a magic circle.
• Shen Mo receives a message from the system indicating that “Fox” is safe and that a copy of the parchment has been placed in his clothing. He discovers that he possesses a second scroll.
• The scrolls activate, revealing a tiny chibi octopus figure named “Adriyuan”—strongly suggesting that the creature is Jiu Yuan. Shen Mo realizes that Edric can see the figure as well.
• Edric explains that he obtained the scroll through a dreamlike experience involving a “beggar” who traveled the world seeking love, represented as candy. Edric accompanied him, fell in love with him, and prepared his own candy, but the beggar awakened, lost all desire, destroyed the world, and apparently forgot Edric.
• Shen Mo infers that the current Fixation World may be the shared obsession of Edric and Jiu Yuan, with Edric pursuing Jiu Yuan after escaping the destroyed world.
• When Shen Mo opens his own scroll, he sees the chibi octopus inside a dark cave, frantically searching the ground and displaying signs of anger.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Remains calm, sarcastic, and observant, but becomes increasingly certain that the octopus is Jiu Yuan. He suppresses his emotional reaction and carefully investigates the situation rather than revealing what he suspects.
• Edric: Shows a playful, childish side around Shen Mo, but also reveals deep loneliness and emotional vulnerability. His jealousy when Shen Mo sees the creature exposes his possessiveness and fear of losing his special connection.
• Jiu Yuan/Adriyuan: Appears in chibi form within the scroll. His frantic and angry search suggests he is looking for something—or someone—and may be unaware of Edric or Shen Mo’s presence.

Significant Themes

• Love, obsession, and pursuit: Edric’s devotion continues even after Jiu Yuan’s apparent rejection and loss of memory, blurring the boundary between romantic love and fixation.
• Memory and identity: Jiu Yuan’s awakening erased his former desires and relationship with Edric, raising questions about whether love survives when memories and emotions are removed.
• Loneliness and companionship: Both Edric and Shen Mo describe each other as their only friend, while Edric’s story emphasizes the pain of loving someone who cannot reciprocate.
• Trust and secrecy: Edric lowers his defenses because Shen Mo believes him without ridicule. Shen Mo, meanwhile, withholds his knowledge about Jiu Yuan while gathering information.
• Parallel worlds and shared obsessions: The scroll appears to connect the characters across worlds, suggesting that the Fixation World is shaped by the unresolved desires of multiple people.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo and Edric trade insults and affection, establishing a close friendship based on blunt honesty.
• Edric confides his supernatural discovery only to Shen Mo, showing exceptional trust.
• Shen Mo reassures Edric and praises his honesty, which makes Edric emotionally lower his guard.
• Edric becomes jealous when Shen Mo can also see the octopus, fearing that the special bond he believed was exclusive to him is being shared.
• Shen Mo comforts Edric after his emotional retelling of the past, while privately analyzing the connection between Edric, Jiu Yuan, and the Fixation World.

Chapter Summary: “Who Was Bullying Whom?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo teases Jiu Yuan’s small octopus form, but the creature angrily smacks his finger. Edrick immediately becomes jealous and accuses Shen Mo of bullying “his” octopus.
• Edrick comforts the injured Octopus Little Man, but Shen Mo points out that the creature is seriously wounded and needs treatment. Edrick hurriedly leaves with the parchment scroll to find a way to heal him.
• Back in his room, Shen Mo experiments with his own parchment scroll. After cutting his finger and placing blood on the magic circle, he activates a magical screen.
• The scroll turns out to be a modified, “cracked” version of the system’s interface. It provides clear instructions and allows Shen Mo to observe and support creatures in another space, much like raising a virtual pet.
• Shen Mo uses the screen to locate a wounded, white-haired nine-tailed fox—Jiu Li—hiding in a cave. Jiu Li bears severe injuries covered in black mist, resembling Jiu Yuan’s war wounds.
• Shen Mo realizes that both Jiu Yuan and Jiu Li appear to have lost their memories, while he may be the only one who has recovered his own.
• The system, disguised as a tiny bee, is with Jiu Li and tells him that the presence he sensed was his “wife,” Shen Mo. Jiu Li distrusts the system and assumes it is lying or manipulating him.
• Shen Mo discovers that he can buy healing items and other supplies through the interface and send them directly to Jiu Li. He also learns that Jiu Yuan and Jiu Li occupy dangerous spaces where they are treated as weak, abnormal figures and are vulnerable to bullying.
• Determined to protect them, Shen Mo resolves to find a way to heal Jiu Li despite the distance separating them.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Demonstrates his usual teasing humor but quickly becomes concerned and protective when he sees Jiu Li’s injuries. He confirms his suspicions about the others’ lost memories and takes responsibility for helping them. His affection also becomes more obvious as he compares Jiu Li’s reserved nature with Edrick’s clingy octopus.
• Edrick: Reveals strong possessiveness and jealousy toward the Octopus Little Man. His playful conflict with Shen Mo gives way to genuine concern once he notices the creature’s injuries.
• Jiu Yuan / Octopus Little Man: Remains aggressive and physically expressive, striking Shen Mo when teased, but is also clearly vulnerable because of his wounds.
• Jiu Li: Appears emotionally withdrawn, distrustful, and resigned to being harmed or abandoned. Although he senses Shen Mo’s presence and feels instinctively drawn to it, he suppresses that attraction because of his traumatic experiences.
• The System: Tries to reunite Shen Mo and Jiu Li but is frustrated by Jiu Li’s suspicion and rejection. Its bee disguise adds comic relief to the otherwise painful situation.

Significant Themes

• Protection and healing: The chapter emphasizes Shen Mo’s determination to rescue his loved ones from physical and emotional suffering.
• Memory and identity: The apparent loss of Jiu Yuan’s and Jiu Li’s memories creates emotional distance and raises questions about whether their bonds can survive without conscious recollection.
• Trauma and mistrust: Jiu Li’s injuries and history of being attacked by beastmen have made him suspicious of kindness, even when he instinctively longs for connection.
• Possessiveness and affection: Edrick’s jealousy and Jiu Li’s subconscious attraction contrast different forms of attachment and romantic instinct.
• Distance and connection: Though Shen Mo cannot physically reach Jiu Li, the magical interface allows him to watch over and aid him from afar.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Mo and Edrick: Their teasing, kicking, and jealous argument create comic tension, while both ultimately focus on the octopus’s welfare.
• Shen Mo and Jiu Li: Shen Mo reaches out tenderly through the screen, while Jiu Li senses him but withdraws out of fear and distrust.
• Jiu Li and the System: The system insists that Shen Mo is Jiu Li’s wife, but Jiu Li dismisses the claim and swats the bee away, believing it may be trying to deceive him.
• Shen Mo and the System: Shen Mo unknowingly benefits from the system’s modifications to his scroll and thanks it, unaware that it is actively trying to guide Jiu Li toward him.

Chapter Summary: “That Reserved Pervert!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo discovers that the blue gemstones in his castle can be exchanged for coins in the mysterious interface. He uses the first 500 coins to buy a healing potion for the little fox figure.
• After realizing the system’s mechanics, Shen Mo orders his butler to gather and sell the castle’s treasures. He eventually sells half of his estate and earns hundreds of thousands of coins.
• With the money, he completely heals Jiu Li’s injuries and transforms his unpleasant cave into a comfortable, luxurious home.
• Shen Mo buys Jiu Li numerous outfits and repeatedly changes them through the interface, enjoying the experience like a dress-up game.
• Jiu Li is embarrassed and annoyed by the revealing clothes, but his growing favorability toward Shen Mo betrays that he secretly enjoys the attention.
• Shen Mo kisses Jiu Li through the screen, causing Jiu Li to blush intensely, hide under the blankets, and retreat in embarrassment.
• Their playful interaction is interrupted when Edrick rushes into Shen Mo’s castle in a panic.
• Edrick reveals that his own figure, Jiu Yuan, is near death. Shen Mo examines the scroll and discovers that Jiu Yuan’s injuries have gone untreated and that his hunger has been ignored.
• Shen Mo traces the problem to Edrick’s account having no coins. Edrick does not even understand what “coins” are.

Character Development

• Shen Mo: Becomes increasingly invested in caring for Jiu Li. He learns how to use the system, sacrifices much of his wealth to heal and provide for him, and openly indulges in teasing and dressing him up. His affection and possessiveness are clear, though he also treats the situation playfully.
• Jiu Li: Recovers physically and begins to develop curiosity and affection toward the mysterious being helping him. Although reserved and easily embarrassed, he feels pleased by Shen Mo’s attention, reflected in repeated favorability increases.
• Edrick: Demonstrates extreme emotional dependence on Jiu Yuan, arriving in tears and begging Shen Mo for help. However, his apparent devotion is undermined by his failure to feed or treat Jiu Yuan, suggesting carelessness, ignorance, or possible unconscious resentment.
• Jiu Yuan: Remains severely injured, starving, and neglected in the cave, contrasting sharply with Jiu Li’s increasingly luxurious treatment.

Significant Themes

• Care and devotion: Shen Mo expresses affection through healing, shelter, food, clothing, and material sacrifice.
• Miscommunication across worlds: The characters do not understand the system’s rules, leading to Jiu Yuan’s suffering and Edrick’s confusion about coins.
• Affection hidden beneath embarrassment: Jiu Li’s outward resistance contrasts with his secretly rising favorability, emphasizing his reserved personality.
• Contrast between relationships: Shen Mo carefully tends to Jiu Li, while Edrick’s supposed devotion to Jiu Yuan is shown to be ineffective and neglectful.
• Playful intimacy and foreshadowing: Shen Mo enjoys teasing Jiu Li, unaware that these “cruel pleasures” may later be returned to him.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo heals Jiu Li through the interface and improves his living conditions, creating a bond built on protection and indulgence.
• Shen Mo dresses Jiu Li in increasingly provocative outfits, while Jiu Li reacts with embarrassment, annoyance, and concealed happiness.
• Shen Mo kisses Jiu Li through the screen, prompting Jiu Li to hide beneath the blankets as Shen Mo laughs at his reaction.
• Edrick interrupts this private amusement by desperately seeking Shen Mo’s help for Jiu Yuan.
• Shen Mo investigates Jiu Yuan’s condition and bluntly identifies Edrick’s failure to provide the coins necessary for care.

Chapter Summary: “No Harm Without Comparison”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Edrick spends most of the day trying to understand the strange symbols on his screen but fails. He later discovers that the Octopus Little Man’s condition has suddenly worsened: the creature becomes unconscious and begins breathing faintly.
• Panicked, Edrick seeks Shen Mo’s help. Shen Mo realizes Edrick does not know that gold coins must be recharged in order to purchase medicine from the in-game shop.
• Shen Mo demonstrates the process using his own screen and shows Edrick his well-raised Fox Little Man as a reference. Edrick is shocked by the contrast between Shen Mo’s luxurious care and his own neglect of Little Yuan.
• Shen Mo interrupts Edrick’s guilt long enough to remind him that Little Yuan may die if he does not act. Edrick learns how to recharge gold coins and rushes back to treat him.
• Jiu Li, Shen Mo’s Fox Little Man, remains sulky after Shen Mo focuses on Edrick and accidentally pokes his tail. Embarrassed and angered, Jiu Li leaves his home for the first time in a long while, carrying the Little Bee with him.
• Shen Mo decides he must become wealthy to support Jiu Li, since raising his lover requires a constant supply of gold coins. With his system and many abilities unavailable, he relies on his intelligence and past experience to devise profitable schemes.
• He orders his subordinates to carry out his plans while remaining cautious about the king, who appears to covet his life. Shen Mo considers Edrick a potentially useful ally in the royal power struggle.
• Shen Mo removes hidden spies from his castle and settles into a rare period of peace, enjoying the garden and teasing Jiu Li. However, Edrick repeatedly visits to show off his well-cared-for Octopus Little Man, irritating Shen Mo.
• The chapter ends with Shen Mo sarcastically praising Edrick’s Octopus Little Man in a maid outfit while privately laughing at the absurdity and considering dressing Jiu Li similarly.

Character Developments

• Edrick: Realizes that his ignorance and carelessness nearly caused Little Yuan’s death. His guilt deepens when he compares his treatment of Little Yuan with Shen Mo’s careful, luxurious nurturing. He becomes motivated to learn the screen’s functions and may also begin accumulating wealth.
• Shen Mo: Acts as the practical problem-solver, teaching Edrick how to save Little Yuan. He also becomes strongly motivated to earn money for Jiu Li and begins using political and economic strategies to secure his future.
• Jiu Li: Shows increasing emotional awareness and possessiveness. He is embarrassed and irritated by Shen Mo’s attention to Edrick, but his reaction also suggests growing attachment. After Shen Mo touches his tail, he silently records the incident as a debt and ventures outside for the first time in a long period.
• Little Yuan: His near-fatal condition reveals the consequences of Edrick’s neglect and forces Edrick to take responsibility.
• Edrick and Shen Mo’s political relationship: Shen Mo begins viewing Edrick not only as an annoyance but also as a powerful potential ally against the king and other royal factions.

Significant Themes

• Neglect versus responsible care: The comparison between the two little people exposes how badly Edrick has cared for Little Yuan and prompts him to change.
• Knowledge and unfamiliar technology: Edrick’s failure comes from ignorance rather than deliberate cruelty, emphasizing the dangers of assuming one understands an unfamiliar system.
• Love expressed through provision: Shen Mo’s desire to become wealthy is driven by his determination to give Jiu Li the best possible life.
• Comparison as emotional awakening: Edrick only fully recognizes his guilt and affection after seeing how another little person is treated.
• Power and political survival: Shen Mo’s economic plans, removal of spies, and assessment of Edrick’s usefulness reveal his continued strategic approach to danger.
• Jealousy and intimacy: Jiu Li’s sulking and Shen Mo’s teasing create romantic tension, while Edrick’s repeated visits function as an unwanted interruption to their private time.

Important Character Interactions

• Edrick and Shen Mo: Shen Mo guides Edrick through the recharging system, criticizes his delay, and helps him save Little Yuan. Their interaction combines practical cooperation with Shen Mo’s impatience and teasing.
• Edrick and Little Yuan: Edrick’s guilt reflects his growing awareness that Little Yuan depends entirely on him and genuinely likes him.
• Shen Mo and Jiu Li: Shen Mo teases and accidentally embarrasses Jiu Li, while Jiu Li reacts with anger, embarrassment, and a desire to keep score. Their playful conflict highlights their developing intimacy.
• Shen Mo and the royal court: Shen Mo remains wary of the king and uses his authority, subordinates, and possible alliance with Edrick to protect himself and strengthen his position.

Here is a concise summary of the chapter "Wasteland":

Key Plot Points

• Shen Mo warns Edrick that the king will discover his reckless spending on the "useless" scroll and urges him to cover his tracks.
• Edrick refuses Shen Mo's invitation to flee together, insisting he will win the imperial power struggle by any means necessary.
• Shen Mo secretly liquidates all his assets, stripping his villa bare (even removing gold trim and luminous pearls), and disappears quietly into the night.
• Blending into a merchant caravan and conducting trade along the way to avoid detection, Shen Mo successfully crosses the border and escapes the king's territory.
• He arrives at the Death Canyon Forest in the Wasteland, one of the continent's forbidden regions, hoping to find a way to reach the sealed realm where he believes Jiu Li and the beastfolk reside.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Shows pragmatism and resourcefulness. He prioritizes survival and maintains his connection to his lover (Jiu Li) at all costs. His careful escape demonstrates his strategic thinking and adaptability.
• Edrick: Reveals a ruthless, ambitious side—willing to kill all rival siblings to secure the throne. His obsessive devotion to his "god" (Jiu Li) is shown to be far deeper than Shen Mo initially realized. He is genuinely saddened by Shen Mo's departure, showing his capacity for friendship.

Significant Themes

• Escape and survival: Shen Mo's meticulously planned getaway highlights the constant danger he faces and his cunning.
• Obsession and devotion: Edrick's fanatical worship of his god is a recurring motif, tied directly to Shen Mo's missing lover.
• Political ambition and ruthlessness: The imperial power struggle is framed as brutal and zero-sum.
• Worldbuilding and mystery: The Aivalan Continent setting is established—a medieval European-like world of magic and swords. Humans dominate, while beastfolk and elves are considered myths. Shen Mo theorizes these races are sealed in a separate realm, possibly connected to the gods and Jiu Li.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo & Edrick: Their farewell is bittersweet. Shen Mo gives Edrick gold to stall the king and offers him a way out; Edrick declines with confidence. They part with mutual respect and care ("Take care").
• Shen Mo & subordinates: He relies on a loyal network of disguised subordinates to execute his escape.
• Shen Mo (internal): Frequently thinks of Jiu Li, considering what the gold coins could have bought him, and deduces his lover may be trapped in a hidden world—the driving motivation for his journey to the Wasteland.

Chapter Summary: “Almost Dead!?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo arrives near Death Canyon Forest, a dangerous region bordering the Wasteland and forestlands. Because the area is considered uninhabitable, he establishes his territory there.
• He secretly builds up his power while his merchant caravans accumulate wealth from surrounding nations. Eventually, he transforms a central village into a city.
• Neighboring countries, having fought among themselves while Shen Mo profited, unite against him once they recognize his growing influence.
• Shen Mo defeats them mercilessly using the divine Mo Blade, which remains effective despite his other abilities being sealed. Some enemies surrender and cede fertile territory to him.
• Shen Mo withdraws from direct conflict and continues profiting from the instability among the surrounding nations.
• Meanwhile, he neglects Jiu Li, the Fox, who becomes anxious because he cannot leave the City of Ten Thousand Beasts to find Shen Mo unless he becomes the strongest being on the map.
• Jiu Li pressures Little Bee for information, then leaves alone. He later returns severely injured.
• The system contacts Shen Mo during battle, but poor signal quality causes him to hear only that the Fox is “dying soon.” Shen Mo panics, ends the battle quickly, and rushes back.
• Shen Mo uses healing potions to restore Jiu Li. By examining the Fox’s attributes, he discovers that all of Jiu Li’s stats are extremely low.
• Shen Mo spends large amounts of gold to raise every attribute to its maximum. Jiu Li then levels up from 1 to 2, revealing that further growth will require even more resources.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Becomes a powerful territorial ruler and ruthless military force. Although his abilities are restricted, he relies on the Mo Blade and strategic wealth-building to dominate his enemies. His indifference toward surrounding nations contrasts with his intense concern for Jiu Li when he believes the Fox is dying.
• Jiu Li: Grows increasingly dependent on and emotionally attached to Shen Mo. His frustration at being separated from Shen Mo drives him to seek a way out of the map, but his low initial attributes leave him vulnerable. His injuries expose his weakness and create a need for training and investment.
• Little Bee/System: Serves as Jiu Li’s reluctant caretaker and Shen Mo’s only means of communication across the maps. Little Bee is frightened by Jiu Li’s threatening behavior but becomes alarmed and concerned when the Fox returns injured.

3. Significant Themes

• Power and territorial ambition: Shen Mo’s rise shows how wealth, strategy, and overwhelming force can transform abandoned land into a powerful domain.
• The consequences of neglect: While Shen Mo focuses on conquest and commerce, he overlooks Jiu Li’s emotional needs and safety, leading to the Fox’s reckless actions.
• Vulnerability beneath appearances: Jiu Li seems as though he should be powerful, but his basic attributes are only ten, making him unexpectedly fragile.
• Love expressed through action and resources: Shen Mo’s concern is revealed through his immediate purchase of healing potions and willingness to spend enormous sums to strengthen Jiu Li.
• Growth as a costly process: The attribute system establishes that becoming stronger requires both leveling up and vast financial investment.

4. Character Interactions

• Jiu Li intimidates Little Bee and demands to know how he can find Shen Mo. Little Bee explains that Jiu Li must become the strongest being on the map before he can leave.
• The system urgently contacts Shen Mo about Jiu Li’s condition, though static causes a misunderstanding that makes Shen Mo believe the Fox is near death.
• Shen Mo comforts the injured Jiu Li, heals him, and then upgrades all of his attributes, unknowingly treating him like an extremely expensive but beloved “gold-devouring beast.”

Chapter Summary: “New Pathway”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo discovers a new way to obtain gold coins in the Fixation World: killing living beings. This includes humans, animals, magical creatures, and evil spirits, with stronger enemies yielding more coins.
• He travels near a canyon to hunt evil spirits, while also defending his newly conquered territory in the Wasteland from assassins and opportunistic attackers.
• Shen Mo confirms that holding Mo Blade grants him an invincible defensive zone of roughly one meter. Anyone who allows him to approach can be killed with a single slash, making him nearly unbeatable in close combat.
• Rather than expand further, Shen Mo focuses on strengthening his territory, developing his forces, and selling increasingly popular goods to nearby cities.
• He uses his growing wealth to improve Fox Little Man’s attributes. As Fox levels up, the shop refreshes with new attribute-enhancing food and clothing, which Shen purchases in large quantities.
• Jiu Li’s physical abilities steadily improve. He begins accompanying Shen’s specially prepared food on his outings and gradually changes from someone frequently beaten to someone capable of defeating others himself.
• In the imperial capital, Edrick wins the struggle for the throne and eliminates his opposition, earning the title “Bloodthirsty Tyrant.”
• Shen sends Edrick information from the parchment scroll. Edrick responds with thanks, affection, and an unpleasant gift: a box containing severed hands. Shen rejects the gift with disgust.
• Edrick nevertheless begins ruling benevolently to increase the empire’s population and tax revenue, executing rebellious nobles while turning the capital into a source of wealth.
• Adriyuan and Jiu Li both begin competing for power in their respective worlds in hopes of meeting the mysterious being connected to Shen Mo. Just as they are close to succeeding, someone resembling Shen Mo appears beside each of them.
• The chapter ends with the system furious upon seeing the Shen Mo lookalike, setting up a new complication.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Becomes more confident and pragmatic after discovering that killing can generate gold coins. His invincibility with Mo Blade makes him a formidable territorial ruler. Despite his ruthless efficiency, he remains affectionate and protective toward Fox Little Man and continues planning for their eventual reunion.
• Fox Little Man: Grows more accepting of Shen Mo’s affection. He allows Shen to touch him without retreating, and his increasing level unlocks better shop items.
• Jiu Li: Grows physically stronger and more capable through repeated combat. His injuries become less frequent, showing clear progress toward independence and strength.
• Edrick: Consolidates power as emperor and demonstrates both ruthlessness and strategic intelligence. Though labeled a tyrant, he adopts beneficial policies to increase wealth and support Shen Mo’s larger goals.
• The System: Remains attached to Shen Mo and Fox Little Man, missing Shen while he is away. It is also highly suspicious and angry when confronted by the mysterious Shen Mo-like figures.
• Adriyuan: Like Jiu Li, begins pursuing dominance in his world to gain access to the powerful existence linked to Shen Mo.

Significant Themes

• Power and survival: Strength, territory, and wealth determine who can survive and rule in the Wasteland.
• Pragmatism versus morality: Shen Mo is not naturally bloodthirsty, but he accepts killing as a necessary and profitable means of survival.
• Affection across distance: Shen Mo and Fox Little Man continue developing a bond despite being separated, with Shen expressing care through gifts and upgrades.
• Political power and economic strategy: Edrick combines violent suppression with benevolent governance to build a prosperous and profitable empire.
• Imitation and identity: The appearance of Shen Mo-like figures introduces questions about replacements, copies, or manipulation by unknown forces.
• Growth through hardship: Jiu Li’s increasing strength reflects how repeated struggle can transform vulnerability into capability.

Important Character Interactions

• Shen Mo repeatedly interacts with Fox Little Man through the parchment scroll, touching and grooming him while encouraging his growing trust.
• The system observes their relationship humorously, comparing Shen’s treatment of Fox to the way another character once interacted with an octopus-like companion.
• Shen and Edrick exchange information and gifts through carrier pigeons. Shen is disgusted by Edrick’s macabre present, while Edrick expresses that he misses him.
• Shen’s economic and military expansion indirectly influences Edrick’s imperial policies, as both seek to generate more wealth and gold coins.
• Adriyuan and Jiu Li’s ambitions mirror one another as they compete for control in hopes of reaching the mysterious being associated with Shen Mo.
• The system’s enraged reaction to the near-perfect Shen Mo lookalikes foreshadows conflict and raises doubts about who—or what—has appeared.

Chapter Summary: “Favorite ‘Toy’”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A being resembling Shen Mo appears, but Jiu Li immediately recognizes that it is not the true “Mo cub.” After learning that the being has no value and has defiled Shen Mo’s likeness, Jiu Li kills it and washes himself in a river before returning to his cave.
• Adriyuan encounters the same unfamiliar person. Although he is drawn to the person’s face, he dislikes the scent and instinctively tears the body apart, keeping only the head as a “toy.”
• Edrick sees the head displayed on the parchment image and is disturbed by the sight of his own face appearing dead. Feeling jealous, he throws it away. Adriyuan briefly notices but chooses to continue clinging affectionately to Edrick’s finger instead.
• With Shen Mo’s help, Edrick supplies Adriyuan with basic stat points, strengthening his tentacles. Edrick attempts to guide him outside the cave, hoping to test Count Molbert’s theory and eventually meet Adriyuan in reality.
• Adriyuan initially fails to understand Edrick’s attempts to send him out, repeatedly returning to act cute. Eventually, he realizes what Edrick wants and leaves, intending to take revenge on those who bullied him.
• Adriyuan attacks and kills a Sea Clan member who had previously tormented and eaten parts of him. He then begins hunting his former persecutors one by one, discovering that defeating them grants him new powers and creates the sensation that his lost strength is returning.
• While Adriyuan is away, Edrick becomes increasingly restless and regrets pushing him out. He takes out his irritation on corrupt nobles, ordering raids on their homes and confiscating their wealth.
• Adriyuan finally returns badly battered, with torn clothing, bite wounds, and bloodstains. Edrick is immediately relieved and pleased to see him, though his concern grows when he realizes Adriyuan has barely survived a fight.

Character Developments

• Jiu Li: His attachment to Shen Mo is shown through his intense rejection of anyone resembling him. His loyalty is possessive and violent, but he remains comforted by returning to the familiar safety of his cave.
• Adriyuan: Becomes stronger and more assertive after receiving stat points. He transitions from an isolated, bullied creature into an active avenger who seeks out his former tormentors. His powers appear to be returning as he defeats enemies.
• Edrick: Displays jealousy and possessiveness toward Adriyuan, even over a severed head used as a toy. He becomes emotionally dependent on observing Adriyuan and is visibly unsettled when he is absent. His ruthless political actions also reveal his tendency to channel irritation into control and punishment.
• Shen Mo: Though largely absent, he continues influencing events by providing information and stat points through letters and the carrier pigeon system.

Significant Themes

• Possessiveness and attachment: Jiu Li, Adriyuan, and Edrick all express affection through ownership, protection, or physical closeness.
• Identity and resemblance: The false Shen Mo-like figure provokes radically different reactions, showing that appearance alone cannot replace genuine identity or emotional bonds.
• Revenge and empowerment: Adriyuan’s revenge marks a shift from victimhood to agency. Violence restores both his confidence and seemingly his lost abilities.
• Isolation versus belonging: Adriyuan’s hidden cave reflects his long history of rejection, while his bond with Edrick gives him a new emotional connection.
• Power and control: Edrick strengthens Adriyuan while attempting to direct his movements, and he similarly exercises authority over corrupt nobles through confiscation and raids.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiu Li and the false Shen Mo: Jiu Li rejects and kills the impostor rather than being deceived by its appearance.
• Adriyuan and Edrick: Their relationship is affectionate, possessive, and somewhat comedic. Adriyuan clings to Edrick, while Edrick alternates between jealousy, indulgence, and concern.
• Adriyuan and his former tormentors: Their dynamic reverses as Adriyuan gains enough strength to hunt and destroy those who once preyed upon him.
• Edrick and the corrupt nobles: Edrick uses political authority to punish them and seize their wealth, reflecting both his ruthlessness and his irritation while Adriyuan is away.

Chapter Summary: “Voice Channel”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Adriyuan returns injured after recklessly charging into the enemy’s main base and being overwhelmed by several opponents. Despite his wounds, he sneaks back to the cave because it is the only place where the mysterious existence he longs for might appear.
• Edrick worries about Adriyuan’s injuries but recognizes that Adriyuan must become stronger and venture outside if they are ever to meet. He spends his newly acquired wealth on items and stat upgrades for the Octopus Little Man.
• Adriyuan’s combat experience has automatically increased his stats, and Edrick raises him to Level 6. This unlocks a voice channel usable three times per day.
• Edrick struggles to operate the new feature and mistakenly assumes it may allow direct communication with Adriyuan. His frustrated voice nevertheless reaches Adriyuan, who becomes excited and wonders whether the mysterious entity is finally speaking to him.
• Edrick writes to Shen Mo for instructions. Shen Mo explains that his own Fox Little Man already has access to the voice channel and that its restrictions lessen as the character levels up. He predicts that reaching the maximum level may allow the two humans and their little people to meet.
• Shen Mo discovers that the wound on Adriyuan hints at black energy connected to Jiu Yuan. Through Little Bee—the system’s new form—he also learns that another version of “Shen Mo” has appeared elsewhere.
• Shen Mo informs Jiu Li of the danger. Jiu Li immediately eliminates the other “Shen Mo” when he appears, revealing how ruthless and powerful he has become.
• Jiu Li grows increasingly eager to venture outside and meet Shen Mo in person, especially after becoming captivated by Shen Mo’s gentle voice.

Character Developments

• Adriyuan: Becomes stronger through combat and leveling, growing more confident after surviving repeated danger. Although suspicious and wary because of his past, he remains deeply attached to the mysterious being and reacts with hopeful excitement when he hears Edrick’s voice.
• Edrick: Shows strong protective feelings toward Adriyuan. He struggles between keeping Adriyuan safe and helping him grow strong enough for them to meet, ultimately choosing to support him through resources and upgrades.
• Shen Mo: Acts as an informed intermediary, sharing knowledge about the voice channel and the leveling system. He is increasingly concerned about the danger posed by Jiu Yuan and warns Edrick to prevent conflict between their little people.
• Jiu Li: His violent instincts and combat ability have intensified, but his affection and anticipation toward Shen Mo have also grown. His eagerness to meet Shen Mo motivates him to go outside more often.
• Little Bee: Now able to communicate with Shen Mo to some degree, it provides important information about the system and becomes uneasy about Jiu Li’s increasingly automatic brutality.

Significant Themes

• Protection versus growth: Edrick must accept that protecting Adriyuan completely would prevent him from becoming strong enough to survive and eventually meet Edrick.
• Longing and connection: The voice channel represents a major step toward overcoming the physical and dimensional separation between the characters.
• Power and violence: Strength is gained through combat, but the chapter also questions whether increasing power risks making characters more ruthless or dangerous.
• Trust amid uncertainty: The characters must rely on incomplete system information, messages, and intuition while facing mysterious enemies and alternate versions of themselves.
• Hopeful anticipation: Even brief contact through a voice creates intense emotional excitement, reinforcing the characters’ desire for a future face-to-face meeting.

Important Character Interactions

• Edrick cares for and upgrades Adriyuan after his injury, balancing concern with encouragement.
• Adriyuan hears Edrick’s frustrated voice and tentatively calls out to the mysterious entity, believing it may finally be communicating with him.
• Edrick contacts Shen Mo for help, and Shen Mo responds with information about leveling and voice-channel progression.
• Shen Mo warns Edrick to keep Adriyuan away from his Fox Little Man because of the black energy associated with Jiu Yuan.
• Shen Mo informs Jiu Li about the threat, prompting Jiu Li to destroy the alternate “Shen Mo.”
• Jiu Li’s growing attachment to Shen Mo’s voice strengthens his determination to meet him in person.

Summary: Impossible to Raise Another Dog

Key Plot Points & Events

• The chapter continues with Shen Mo and Jiu Li's ongoing bond through the mysterious interface, with Shen Mo noting their base points increasing automatically after Jiu Li's excursions.
• Jiu Li and Adriyuan (Molbert's cub) get into a fight after both obtain healing food from spatial rifts, each mistakenly believing the other is being secretly raised by their mysterious being.
• The two fall back into a spatial rift mid-fight, ending the conflict. Both are injured—Jiu Li returns to Shen Mo clearly hurt.
• Edrick (Jiu Li's guardian) figures out the horn icon's functionality after further research and receives Shen Mo's letter explaining the fight. He burns the letter and becomes determined to give his cub more points so he wins next time.
• Shen Mo learns the reason for Jiu Li's injury, explains the misunderstanding (that Adriyuan belongs to Molbert), and gently comforts the sulking fox.

Character Developments

• Jiu Li: Shows jealousy and possessiveness toward Shen Mo's attention; fears he isn't the only one. Despite his resentment, he's easily appeased by Shen Mo's reassurance, revealing a shy, clingy nature beneath his composed exterior. His favorability is noted as already maxed out.
• Shen Mo: Demonstrates caring, playful, and teasing qualities. He affirms Jiu Li is his sole favorite ("you're the only one I like") and delights in teasing him, though he regrets being limited to finger-touch. He takes advantage of the current situation to "bully" Jiu Li knowing roles may reverse once they meet in the real world.
• Edrick: Protective and thick-skinned; brushes off the embarrassment of his earlier operations syncing to Jiu Li. Becomes resolute about strengthening his cub rather than punishing him, proudly siding with his own.
• Adriyuan: Fights Jiu Li from a mistaken jealousy; presumably also recovering on Molbert's side.

Significant Themes

• Possessiveness vs. reassurance: Both parties show jealousy over the hypothetical of being replaced; the resolution emphasizes absolute mutual loyalty.
• Communication resolves misunderstanding: What began as a fight over presumed infidelity of affection is resolved through direct explanation and trust.
• Affection expressed through action: Shen Mo's care comes through in comforting words, gentle coaxing, and even playful physical touch; Edrick shows love through protective support.
• Shy devotion beneath cool exterior: Jiu Li's actions contradict his words (saying no, but his tail wrapping around Shen Mo's finger), highlighting a tender dynamic.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo ↔ Jiu Li: Teasing but affectionate. Shen Mo coaxes the injured, sulking Jiu Li, explains the misunderstanding, and physically plays with his fox form while calling him "my fox." Jiu Li resists verbally but shows clingy behavior, enjoying Shen Mo's gentle attention.
• Edrick ↔ Shen Mo (indirect): Edrick reads the letter about the fight, shows displeasure, but ultimately sides with his cub and shifts focus to making him stronger.
• Jiu Li ↔ Adriyuan: Off-screen fight driven by shared possessiveness; both mistake the other for a rival, resulting in mutual injury.
• System: Observes the couple's dynamic as a bystander, feeling fond anticipation for its own future cub.

Chapter Summary: “Self-Destruct Mode?!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo discovers that the little Fox and the familiar cave have vanished while he was distracted by the sunlight.
• A system prompt reveals that Fox has reached the maximum level of 10 and that the mission is complete. The system then initiates a countdown to “self-destruct.”
• When the countdown reaches zero, the parchment scroll burns up in purple flames and transforms into a gold coin.
• Shen Mo burns his fingers trying to catch the scroll’s remains, then discovers that the coin is a spatial container holding his unused money and purchased supplies.
• About half of the clothes, food, and other items bought for Fox are missing. Shen Mo wonders whether Fox received them or whether the system took them.
• His attempts to contact “Brother Tian” or the system fail, leaving him anxious and angry over Fox’s disappearance.
• A subordinate informs Shen Mo that a Magic Passage has appeared near the monitored canyon. Only Archmages and stronger individuals seem able to enter.
• Shen Mo suspects the passage is connected to the vanished scroll and may lead to Fox. However, he is blocked by an invisible barrier because he is not yet an Archmage.
• Realizing he must increase his magical rank, Shen Mo decides to return to his homeland and potentially attend a magic academy.

Character Development

• Shen Mo becomes increasingly emotionally attached to Fox. Fox’s sudden disappearance leaves him panicked, frustrated, and unusually vulnerable.
• His anger at the unreliable system reveals his growing distrust of the mysterious mechanism controlling his interactions with Fox.
• Despite his irritation, Shen Mo remains resourceful. He investigates the gold coin, connects the timing of the Magic Passage to the system’s disappearance, and quickly forms a new plan.
• He is forced to reconsider his original intention of avoiding long-term involvement in this world. Finding Fox now becomes important enough for him to pursue magical advancement and return to his homeland.

Significant Themes

• Separation and uncertainty: Shen Mo is given no explanation for Fox’s disappearance, intensifying his fear and helplessness.
• Loss of control: The system abruptly ends the mission and destroys itself without allowing Shen Mo to respond.
• Attachment and love: Shen Mo’s distress shows how deeply Fox has affected him, despite their unusual circumstances.
• Determination and adaptation: Rather than surrendering, Shen Mo searches for a possible connection between the system and the Magic Passage and prepares to improve his abilities.
• Mystery and transition: The destroyed scroll and newly appeared passage suggest a major shift in the story and possibly a route connecting Shen Mo to Fox.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo and Fox: Though Fox does not appear directly, Shen Mo’s reaction demonstrates their developing bond. He worries about Fox’s safety and whether Fox possesses half of the supplies.
• Shen Mo and the system/Brother Tian: Shen Mo repeatedly demands answers and attempts to make contact, but receives no response, deepening his frustration.
• Shen Mo and his subordinate: The subordinate reports the appearance of the Magic Passage. Shen Mo listens seriously and immediately recognizes its possible connection to Fox.
• Shen Mo and the absent Emperor: At the end, Shen Mo decides to return to his homeland and wonders about the newly crowned emperor, hinting at future political or personal interactions.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo decides to return to the Elran Empire to investigate whether his missing lover, Fox, is connected to the Magic Passage. He plans to use Edrick’s scroll and consult magical texts in the royal library.
• He chooses to travel with only his butler and a few trusted subordinates, carrying merchandise, jewelry, and gold in his Spatial Ring.
• After an uneventful journey through increasingly prosperous trade routes near Wasteland City, Shen Mo arrives at his former home, Molbert’s count’s estate.
• He discovers that Edrick preserved and maintained the estate after becoming king, which deeply moves Shen Mo and reinforces his appreciation of Edrick’s loyalty.
• The next morning, Shen Mo visits Edrick at the palace. Edrick privately shows him the magical scroll, allowing Shen Mo to observe his communication with Adriyuan.
• Shen Mo is shocked to discover that Edrick and Adriyuan have already developed an openly romantic relationship through the magical connection.
• Adriyuan appears in an absurd, doll-like outfit and reacts possessively when Shen Mo approaches. Edrick likewise pushes Shen Mo away, prioritizing Adriyuan’s feelings over his friendship.
• Irritated by Edrick’s smug behavior, Shen Mo withholds his warning about the consequences of Adriyuan reaching Level 10. Instead, he decides to exploit Edrick’s apparent shortage of gold by offering him all the wealth he brought.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Remains focused on finding Fox and uncovering the truth behind the Magic Passage. He demonstrates strategic thinking by returning to the Empire through Edrick and Adriyuan, recognizing their importance as the world’s protagonists. His affection for Edrick is evident when he is touched by the preservation of his estate, though his jealousy and irritation emerge when Edrick neglects him for Adriyuan.
• Edrick: Shows continued loyalty and sentimentality by preserving Shen Mo’s former residence. He is also revealed to be deeply infatuated with Adriyuan, becoming openly possessive and dismissive of Shen Mo when he fears Adriyuan may become jealous.
• Adriyuan: Appears increasingly emotionally attached to Edrick and displays a possessive, suspicious side toward Shen Mo. Despite his cute appearance, his cold gaze suggests a dangerous or threatening temperament beneath the surface.
• Fox: Does not appear directly, but remains Shen Mo’s primary motivation and emotional focus.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and friendship: Edrick’s preservation of Shen Mo’s estate proves his devotion, while Shen Mo’s reaction shows how much he values their friendship.
• Romantic attachment and jealousy: Edrick and Adriyuan’s relationship has become intimate despite their unusual circumstances, with Adriyuan’s jealousy and Edrick’s protectiveness creating tension.
• Identity and connection across worlds: The magical scroll enables a form of supernatural “online dating,” blurring the boundaries between physical and distant relationships.
• Strategy and exploitation: Shen Mo balances genuine concern for his friends with calculated self-interest, planning to use Edrick and Adriyuan to find Fox and potentially manipulate Edrick’s financial needs.
• Humor amid danger: The bizarre appearance of Adriyuan’s chibi form, Shen Mo’s disbelief at their relationship, and his decision to withhold crucial information create comic relief beneath the chapter’s larger mystery.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo privately observes Edrick and Adriyuan’s affectionate exchange and compares Adriyuan’s voice to Fox’s.
• Adriyuan notices Shen Mo and responds with hostility, while Edrick immediately sides with Adriyuan and orders Shen Mo to keep his distance.
• Shen Mo retaliates internally by deciding not to warn Edrick about Adriyuan’s future advancement and instead offers Edrick his wealth, likely setting up a humorous or manipulative exchange.

Summary: "Just Right!"

Key Plot Points

• Shen Mo gives Edrick his leftover treasure, claiming he no longer needs it because his “little person” has reached max level and he expects they’ll meet soon (a half-truth).
• Edrick is suspicious at first but accepts the gift after exchanging the items for gold coins.
• Shen Mo asks to borrow Edrick’s Royal Library to study magic books and scrolls. Edrick teases him about his weak mage level before agreeing to help.
• Edrick leads Shen Mo into the palace’s rear courtyard, where he has built a church dedicated to Jiu Yuan—his “little person.”
• Edrick reveals he has emptied the old harem to create the worship space and claims he alone can provide Jiu Yuan with enough faith, refusing to share him with anyone.
• Shen Mo is visually distressed by the statue, which depicts Jiu Yuan with a tentacled lower body, and tries not to look at it.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Emphasizes his recovered memories and much stronger mental power, which he believes will let him rapidly become an Archmage. He is strategic and partial with the truth about meeting his “little person.”
• Edrick: Shows an obsessive, possessive devotion to Jiu Yuan. He doesn’t want outside worshippers—only his own faith matters. Still teasing, playful, and suspicious of Shen Mo’s motives, but willing to help.

Themes

• Faith and worship: Explores the idea of devotion in a world where gods are legends; Edrick treats his devotion as exclusive and personal.
• Power through knowledge: Shen Mo plans to use magical study to gain strength, echoing the importance of hidden talents and self-improvement.
• Obsession and secrecy: Edrick’s worship borders on unhealthy; Shen Mo keeps his real situation and timeline hidden.

Character Interactions

• Shen Mo and Edrick trade banter: Edrick needles Shen Mo about his poor magic level, while Shen Mo deflects with dry humor and mystery.
• Shen Mo feels embarrassed and uncomfortable around the bizarre statue, while Edrick behaves reverently, even touching and pressing his face against the tentacles.
• The exchange shows their trust despite Edrick’s initial wariness and Shen Mo’s carefully guarded truths.

Summary of He Was Already Eating It…

---

1. Key Plot Points

• Edrick and Shen Mo discuss Adriyuan, who is currently in the form of a dark-golden-haired statue. Edrick admits he feels Adriyuan is the true god he worships, recalling fragments of a past-life connection.
• Shen Mo confirms his earlier deduction: the mysterious parchment scroll appeared due to Edrick's obsession, and its disappearance is connected to Adriyuan’s actions.
• Edrick reveals a hazy dream, believing Adriyuan was a god who saved him in a past life. Shen Mo quietly doubts this, suspecting Adriyuan may have been the one who destroyed Edrick instead (based on Edrick's earlier "candy" story).
• After prayer, Edrick leads Shen Mo to the library, grants him a key, and warns him not to exhaust his mental power studying magic scrolls.
• Shen Mo spends several days in the library learning every magic scroll available, using a concealment array to avoid attention. He feels surprisingly no strain on his mental power.
• Adriyuan reaches level 10 when Edrick storms in, furious that Adriyuan has "disappeared" from his place. Edrick confronts Shen Mo, who appears calm and prepared, suggesting they discuss it privately.

---

2. Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Shows deep calculation and foresight. He gathered intelligence from Edrick's emotions, deduced the truth about the scroll, and prepares for Edrick's outburst. He is growing more confident in his own abilities (learning scrolls with ease) and maintains composure under pressure.
• Edrick: Reveals genuine emotional dependence on Adriyuan — torn between rage and reverence. His obsessive attachment is clear; he sees Adriyuan as his personal god, yet his temper spirals out of control when Adriyuan vanishes.
• Adriyuan: Not physically present, but his actions (reaching level 10, making the scroll disappear) suggest an evolving will. The chapter implies he is moving toward some goal, leaving Edrick unsettled.

---

3. Significant Themes

• Obsession and worship: Edrick’s fixation on Adriyuan blurs the line between devotion and possession.
• Past lives and fate: The narrative hints at a recurring bond between Edrick and Adriyuan, framed as divine destiny — yet Shen Mo questions the moral of that story ("destroyer vs. savior").
• Sacrifice and loss: The recurring "candy" metaphor highlights something precious that was abandoned; whether it will be reclaimed or lost again hangs over the plot.
• Knowledge and power: Shen Mo’s effort to master magic scrolls shows the importance of preparation and capability in a hostile world.

---

4. Character Interactions

• Edrick & Shen Mo: A tense but cooperative dynamic. Edrick swings between reliance on Shen Mo’s insight and fury toward him. Shen Mo rises to Edrick’s aggression with calm politeness, skillfully maneuvering the conversation toward privacy.
• Edrick & Adriyuan: Though Adriyuan isn't directly present, his disappearance defines the interaction. Edrick’s grief/anger shows his deep emotional bond, while Shen Mo’s analysis suggests this connection is far older and more dangerous than Edrick realizes.

---

The chapter ends on a foreboding note, with Shen Mo knowing far more about Adriyuan’s involvement than he lets on — and the title hinting that Adriyuan may have already taken in the "candy" he was once denied.

Chapter Summary: "Is His Precious Worth Only One Gold Coin?"

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo returns to Edrick's palace and is violently slammed against a wall by Edrick, who is furious because the "tiny person" spontaneously combusted upon reaching level 10—the level that was supposed to allow them to meet.
• Edrick initially believes nothing was left behind, but Shen Mo recovers a gold coin from the shadows, telling Edrick to drip his blood on it. The coin glows faintly but appears to be just a dead object, disappointing Edrick.
• Shen Mo produces a map of the Aivalan Continent and asks Edrick if any place draws his attention. Edrick's gaze settles on a coastal sea area—a forbidden zone.
• Shen Mo reveals he anticipated this choice and hands Edrick a dossier of information about that coastal forbidden zone, suggesting the person Edrick seeks will be found there.
• Shen Mo explains his own journey: after the sheepskin scroll vanished, a magical tunnel appeared near Death Canyon in the Wasteland. He wants to enter but requires Grand Magus level, so he returned for advanced magic studies.
• The chapter concludes with both men realizing the world is more complex and mysterious than they previously believed.

2. Character Developments

• Edrick: Moves from explosive fury to reflective understanding. His desire to meet the tiny person is shown as deep and genuine, causing him both excitement and grief. He admits guilt for hurting Shen Mo but refuses to apologize directly.
• Shen Mo: Reveals himself as calculating and strategic—he deliberately withheld information about the meeting's consequences to ensure the tiny person leveled up quickly. He accepts Edrick's anger and violence without retaliation, showing a patient, knowing friendship.
• Both characters demonstrate a willingness to pursue their loved ones across dangerous, forbidden locations, revealing a shared romantic/determined streak.

3. Significant Themes

• Trust and secrecy in friendship: Shen Mo's manipulation (withholding the truth) tests Edrick's trust, but the friendship survives through honesty afterward.
• Cost of reaching goals: Achieving the required level came at an unexpected price—the tiny person's physical form was destroyed, showing that pursuits may have unforeseen consequences.
• Mystery of the world: The vanishings of the sheepskin scroll, the magical tunnels, and the forbidden zones suggest a hidden layer of reality beyond current understanding.
• Connection between people: The blood-accepting gold coin, the map drawing Edrick to the right location, and the shared journey represent supernatural bonds between the characters and their loved ones.

4. Character Interactions

• Edrick and Shen Mo's dynamic: Characterized by Edrick's physical aggression and angry outbursts paired with Shen Mo's calm, sarcastic composure. They exchange quips ("stingy scoundrel" vs. "Your Respected Majesty"), but their exchange reveals deep underlying loyalty—Shen Mo prepared thoroughly to help Edrick, and Edrick, despite his temper, trusts Shen Mo's counsel. Their bickering masks genuine mutual concern and a long, familiar friendship.

Chapter Summary: "Come On, Let's Hurt Each Other!"

Key Plot Points

• Edrick reveals his plan to leave the kingdom to search for his beloved, using a Clone Spell (a forbidden-magic-level technique) to create a duplicate "Edrick" who will rule in his place.
• Shen Mo is surprised by Edrick’s power, realizing Edrick is the protagonist of this Fixation World and far stronger than expected.
• The clone briefly protests, wanting to go too, but Edrick threatens it into obedience.
• After settling the clone, Edrick dismisses Shen Mo, who then heads to the royal training grounds to practice magic privately. He has already memorized all the scrolls he was studying.
• Shen Mo asks a knight to lead him to the magic training area and confirms that the magic wards can withstand attacks below forbidden magic, implying he may soon test high-level spells.

Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Strategic and cautious; his playful outer persona masks preparation for a risky venture. He is aware of his weaknesses versus Edrick’s strength but remains unbothered.
• Edrick: More layered than a simple yandere—capable, narcissistic, and decisive. His clone spell shows he is willing to abandon his royal duties for love, yet he still cares enough to keep a substitute ruler.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and duty: Edrick leaves the throne behind for a personal quest.
• Power and rivalry: The banter highlights an odd friendship built on mutual threat and respect.
• Deception/identity: The clone raises questions about what it means to replace oneself.
• Preparation: Shen Mo’s gathering of knowledge and practice hints at an upcoming confrontation or journey.

Character Interactions

• Edrick teases Shen Mo, who responds with dry humor and casual disrespect (eating sunflower seeds during a serious scene).
• Edrick warns Shen Mo that he’ll “not live to see Avaran’s sun” if his guesses are wrong—playful but with an edge.
• Shen Mo sarcastically admires Edrick, while Edrick privately reflects on why he befriended Shen Mo (envying his resilience and similar circumstances).
  Note: The chapter title “Come On, Let’s Hurt Each Other!” reflects the combative-but-fond dynamic between the two men.

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Mo attempts a fire-magic spell in a training ground, believing it failed when the target obstacle remains unchanged.
• The intense heat and flames from his spell scare away the other nobles, who flee and report a possible attack.
• After Shen Mo leaves, the obstacle suddenly turns to ash, revealing his spell actually succeeded—and was extremely powerful.
• Imperial knights investigate but find no suspicious persons; Edrick later appears and senses Shen Mo’s magic was nearly on par with a forbidden mage.
• Shen Mo goes to the palace to bid farewell, but Edrick is absent, so he leaves a letter and departs for his territory.
• Edrick returns, reads the letter, and also sets off, intending to find Jiu Yuan.
• During the journey, Shen Mo tries to learn magic from traveling mages but fails due to their eccentricity; he decides to spare any future assassin to question them instead.
• Upon reaching Windbreak City (his united territory), the group is stopped by the loyal but dim-witted guard Ragnar, who claims a “city lord” has already returned and warned of impostors—Shen Mo realizes someone is impersonating him inside the city.

2. Character Developments

• Shen Mo: Discovers his magic is far stronger than he realized, though he remains unsure of his own skill. Shows a pragmatic, slightly lonely attitude, deciding to learn from enemies rather than unreliable mages. He is direct and courteous in leaving a farewell letter.
• Edrick: Becomes increasingly aware that his friend Shen Mo has changed and grown distant. Despite this, he still cares for Shen Mo and prioritizes finding Jiu Yuan. He is perceptive and protective of his inner circle.
• Ragnar: Introduced as a loyal but simple-minded subordinate. He is easily deceived by the impostor city lord, showing his trusting nature and lack of foresight.

3. Significant Themes

• Hidden power and self-doubt: Shen Mo’s spell works spectacularly, but he does not realize it until later—highlighting his lack of self-awareness and unfamiliarity with his own abilities.
• Communication and distance: Shen Mo and Edrick miss each other, reinforcing the growing emotional gap between them despite mutual concern.
• Misunderstanding and mistaken identity: The nobles misread the magic as an attack; Ragnar mistakes Shen Mo for an impostor; an unknown person impersonates the city lord. This theme recurs throughout the chapter.
• Isolation of authority: Shen Mo, as a ruler and powerful figure, is surrounded by people yet still operates alone—trying to learn, make decisions, and leave without deeper connections.

4. Character Interactions

• Shen Mo with the noble mages: He unintentionally drives them away with his overwhelming fire magic, leaving him isolated without answers.
• Shen Mo with the knights (indirect): He leaves before they arrive; the knights only note his presence as “Count Molbert” but do not pursue him.
• Edrick with the knights (indirect): He observes the aftermath, repairs the magic circle, and silently assesses Shen Mo’s power.
• Shen Mo with Edrick (via letter): Their only communication is a written farewell; Shen Mo respects protocol, Edrick is disappointed but accepting.
• Shen Mo with wandering mages: Attempts to converse and learn, but fails due to their arrogance—leading him to abandon that approach.
• Shen Mo’s subordinate with Ragnar: The subordinate removes his mask to remind Ragnar of his identity, setting up resolution of the impersonation plot.
  The chapter moves Shen Mo from a failed experiment to a return home, where a new threat awaits—an impostor claiming to be city lord. Meanwhile, Edrick’s own journey begins, and the growing mystery of Shen Mo’s power and changed behavior remains at the core.