Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen unveils a strange black object called the “Iron Watermelon,” which resembles a metal bomb with a burning fuse. The Underworld figures are confused and wary, though Queen Mother recognizes its dangerous nature.
• Listening Truth retreats nervously, accidentally directing the object toward the Four Great Judges. When he attempts to blow it away, the object appears to vanish, leading everyone to believe it was merely an illusion.
• Listening Truth mocks Qin Fen, but the Iron Watermelon suddenly explodes for real. The blast produces terrifying flames identified as Samadhi True Fire.
• Listening Truth is trapped in the fire. Although the flames cause only superficial physical injuries, they inflict severe pain and psychological distress while defeating all attempts to dispel them.
• Tiger Tamer tries to rescue Listening Truth with a Buddhist technique, but the attack knocks Listening Truth away instead. The fire automatically follows and engulfs him again.
• The Yama Kings plead with Qin Fen to show mercy, fearing that Listening Truth’s death would bring Ksitigarbha’s wrath upon them.
• Qin Fen agrees to stop, declaring that Heaven cherishes life and that Listening Truth will be spared because it is his first offense. However, the flames do not immediately disappear, leaving everyone horrified and confused.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen/Natural Daoist: Demonstrates his unpredictable and mischievous nature. He uses an unfamiliar magical “expression” with devastating psychological impact, though he is also uncertain about its actual power. He presents himself as magnanimous while secretly waiting for the spell’s duration to end.
• Listening Truth: Changes from smug confidence to panic and humiliation. His arrogance collapses after he is trapped in the fire, and he becomes the unwilling victim of both Qin Fen’s trick and Tiger Tamer’s failed rescue attempt.
• Tiger Tamer: Shows concern for Listening Truth but acts impulsively. His attempted rescue accidentally worsens the situation, making him anxious about both the spell and Listening Truth’s possible revenge.
• The Yama Kings and Underworld deities: Become increasingly cautious and fearful of Qin Fen. They recognize that they cannot afford for Listening Truth to be seriously harmed and humble themselves by pleading for mercy.
• Lu Pan and Food God: Privately understand that Qin Fen’s apparent tricks are likely more dangerous than they seem, unlike the other observers who are easily fooled.

Significant Themes

• The danger of underestimating appearances: The Iron Watermelon initially seems like an illusion, but its apparent disappearance is part of the deception.
• Unpredictable power: Qin Fen’s methods are impossible for the Underworld figures to understand or defend against, emphasizing the gap between his abilities and their expectations.
• Humiliation as punishment: Listening Truth is not seriously injured, but the pain, helplessness, ruined appearance, and public embarrassment serve as a harsher punishment than physical destruction.
• Power and submission: The powerful Underworld rulers are forced to bow and plead before Qin Fen, acknowledging his superiority.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: The chapter repeatedly turns apparent danger into absurdity, especially when Tiger Tamer accidentally attacks his ally and when Qin Fen’s command to stop fails to take effect immediately.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen taunts Listening Truth by challenging him to dispel the Iron Watermelon.
• Listening Truth’s attempt to defend himself inadvertently threatens the Four Great Judges, causing them to resent him.
• Tiger Tamer tries to help Listening Truth but mistakenly knocks him away, provoking Listening Truth’s anger.
• The Yama Kings intervene diplomatically, apologizing for Listening Truth and begging Qin Fen to stop the attack.
• Qin Fen accepts their plea with an air of superiority, but the continued flames make his supposed act of mercy even more intimidating.

Chapter Summary: Ghost Festival Upheaval, Turmoil Rises Again

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen’s attempted Samadhi True Fire attack fails to function as intended. Instead of seriously injuring Listening Truth, it causes only superficial physical damage but leaves him deeply traumatized.
• The supernatural attack frightens the gathered Underworld officials and ghosts. Even Listening Truth, previously arrogant and aggressive, becomes cautious and refuses to provoke Qin Fen again.
• Qin Fen exploits the situation to establish control over the gathering. Food God, Lu Pan, and the three Yama Kings quickly submit to his authority, praising his “righteousness” and agreeing to follow his decisions.
• Qin Fen announces that ghosts may freely choose whether to attend Ksitigarbha’s Dharma assembly or remain behind. This allows him to avoid directly opposing Ksitigarbha while still undermining the assembly.
• Tiger Tamer attempts to persuade the ghosts by emphasizing the Dharma assembly’s religious benefits, including cleansing sins and hastening reincarnation.
• Influenced by Qin Fen’s earlier intimidation and by suggestions planted beforehand, the ghosts overwhelmingly choose to return home instead. They prefer playing cards, mahjong, and enjoying food in the Underworld rather than attending the assembly.
• The Ghost Festival gathering collapses almost completely. Listening Truth is shocked and frustrated by the unexpectedly low attendance.
• The monks escort the remaining Buddhist followers back and plan to report the incident. Listening Truth also decides to investigate Qin Fen’s true identity and origins.
• Qin Fen remains unconcerned about being investigated and falls asleep after successfully disrupting the event.
• The chapter ends with spies reporting to an unnamed Great King that Ksitigarbha’s people have departed, suggesting that the incident will trigger further conflict.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen/Chef Qin: Becomes more confident in manipulating powerful Underworld figures. Although his abilities are unreliable and he cannot fully control the WeChat supernatural functions, he learns to use fear, persuasion, and political maneuvering to his advantage. He also shows strategic caution by allowing the ghosts to “choose” freely rather than openly challenging Ksitigarbha.
• Listening Truth: His arrogance is badly shaken. The Samadhi True Fire attack leaves him psychologically fearful, causing him to restrain himself and avoid confrontation. However, his humiliation motivates him to investigate Qin Fen.
• Food God: Fully embraces Qin Fen as a powerful patron and shamelessly flatters him to secure protection.
• Lu Pan and the Three Yama Kings: Quickly recognize the political advantage of siding with Qin Fen. They abandon responsibility for the Ghost Festival and use his decision as cover against possible accusations from Ksitigarbha.
• Tiger Tamer: Loses his confidence after witnessing Qin Fen’s frightening abilities. Though he still attempts to fulfill his duty by promoting the Dharma assembly, his efforts fail.
• The ghosts: Their priorities are revealed to be practical and pleasure-oriented. Rather than pursue religious redemption or reincarnation, most choose the safety and entertainment of their familiar Underworld lives.

Significant Themes

• Power through intimidation: Qin Fen’s imperfect attack is still effective because psychological fear matters more than actual physical damage.
• Manipulation and political pragmatism: The Underworld officials cooperate with Qin Fen not out of loyalty, but because supporting him protects their own interests.
• Free choice as a political weapon: Qin Fen avoids appearing tyrannical by giving the ghosts freedom, while ensuring that circumstances make them choose the outcome he wants.
• Conflict between religion and worldly comfort: The Dharma assembly promises spiritual benefits, but the ghosts prefer food, games, and security, emphasizing the gap between lofty ideals and ordinary desires.
• Unpredictability of power: Qin Fen’s supernatural tools do not behave according to his expectations, yet their unpredictability makes them even more frightening to others.
• Impending escalation: The failed Dharma assembly and Listening Truth’s planned investigation indicate that Qin Fen’s actions will provoke larger forces and future confrontation.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen dominates the exchange with Listening Truth, Tiger Tamer, Food God, Lu Pan, and the Yama Kings through implied threats and authority.
• Food God and Lu Pan reinforce each other’s flattery, encouraging the Yama Kings to submit.
• The Yama Kings use Qin Fen’s “reasonable” policy to shift responsibility away from themselves and protect their political standing.
• Tiger Tamer tries to reason with the ghosts, but they mock or ignore the religious appeal and organize games instead.
• Listening Truth watches helplessly as the ghosts disperse and later decides to seek outside help in uncovering Qin Fen’s identity.
• The closing report to the Great King hints that Qin Fen’s actions are being observed by other powers, broadening the conflict beyond the Ghost Festival.

Chapter Summary: “Ksitigarbha’s Fury, Big Chef Curses at the Door”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ghost Festival officially begins with the opening of the Ghost Gate. Most of the ghosts—about seventy percent—remain behind, creating a major challenge for the Underworld authorities.
• Ten percent of the ghosts leave with the monks, while the remaining twenty percent break loose and cause trouble throughout the Underworld.
• Snow Lion Silver Beard takes advantage of the chaos. He orders his little demons to capture wandering ghosts while he confronts Ksitigarbha’s forces.
• The monks sent to Yin Mountain Underworld return in panic after encountering an unidentified expert. Even Listening Truth and Tiger Tamer are unable to determine the person’s identity or challenge him safely.
• Ksitigarbha initially suspects the Heavenly Court, especially because the unknown expert knows Food God. However, the monks reveal that the person who injured them and helped seize the ghosts was actually a Snow Lion demon.
• Ksitigarbha realizes that both the Heavenly Court and the Demon Tribe may be interfering with his carefully prepared Ghost Festival plans. His attempts to use fate calculation and Mind-reading fail, suggesting that powerful forces are concealing the truth.
• Frustrated, Ksitigarbha uses his Heavenly Eye to locate Snow Lion and captures him. He interrogates Snow Lion, who arrogantly claims that his ancestor will come to rescue him.
• Fine Ghost is also captured and trapped in Ksitigarbha’s sleeve. In desperation, he calls Qin Fen for help.
• Qin Fen, awakened from sleep by the disturbance, blames Ksitigarbha for ruining his rest and causing the earlier chaos involving Listening Truth. Rather than immediately rescuing Fine Ghost, he decides to retaliate.
• Qin Fen adds Ksitigarbha on WeChat and sends him an embarrassing, bizarre song. The chapter ends with Ksitigarbha being forced to listen to lyrics accusing someone named Fu Wenpei of hiding after stealing another woman’s man.

Character Developments

• Ksitigarbha becomes increasingly frustrated and suspicious as his years of planning collapse. His usual ability to read minds and calculate fate proves ineffective, making him feel unusually powerless.
• Snow Lion Silver Beard is shown as aggressive, opportunistic, and overconfident. Although captured, he continues to threaten Ksitigarbha by invoking his powerful ancestor.
• Fine Ghost shifts from troublemaker to desperate captive, relying on Qin Fen after Snow Lion is taken prisoner.
• Qin Fen reveals his vengeful and mischievous side. He refuses to act like a restrained immortal, choosing instead to punish Ksitigarbha in a petty but humorous manner for disturbing his sleep and causing earlier trouble.
• Food God becomes an indirect link between Qin Fen, the Heavenly Court, and the conflict surrounding Ksitigarbha, though he is not directly involved in the chapter’s events.

Significant Themes

• Chaos caused by hidden powers: The Ghost Festival’s disruption suggests that several major factions are acting behind the scenes, making the true source of the conflict difficult to identify.
• Limits of authority and foresight: Ksitigarbha’s status and supernatural abilities cannot prevent interference, and even his fate calculation fails completely.
• Consequences of meddling: Qin Fen’s earlier involvement has destabilized the Ghost Festival, while Snow Lion’s interference further complicates matters. Everyone’s attempts to exploit the situation create new problems.
• Humor amid high-stakes conflict: Despite the Underworld’s political and supernatural crisis, the chapter uses absurd misunderstandings, bodily humor, and Qin Fen’s childish revenge to undermine the solemnity of the situation.
• Pride and miscalculation: Snow Lion’s confidence and Ksitigarbha’s assumptions both lead them astray, showing that powerful figures can still misunderstand events and underestimate their opponents.

Character Interactions

• Ksitigarbha questions the returning monks about the mysterious expert who defeated them.
• The monks connect the unknown figure to Food God and therefore to the Heavenly Court, prompting Ksitigarbha to suspect the Jade Emperor.
• The monks then clarify that Snow Lion was responsible for the attack and ghost theft, forcing Ksitigarbha to reconsider the Demon Tribe’s role.
• Ksitigarbha captures and confronts Snow Lion, while Snow Lion threatens him with retaliation from his ancestor.
• Fine Ghost reaches out to Qin Fen for rescue, but Qin Fen ignores his pleas and instead targets Ksitigarbha.
• Qin Fen and Ksitigarbha interact indirectly through WeChat, with Qin Fen ending the chapter by humiliating and irritating the Bodhisattva through a provocative song.

Chapter Summary: “Ksitigarbha Was Going Crazy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ksitigarbha is resting when an invisible woman begins taunting him from outside his residence.
• She repeatedly accuses him of “stealing a man,” demands that he open the door, and mentions someone named Fu Wenpei.
• Ksitigarbha activates his Heavenly Eye, Heavenly Ear, and mind-reading abilities, but cannot detect anyone nearby. This convinces him that the intruder is an exceptionally powerful expert.
• The mysterious voice continues insulting him, calling him a shameless fox spirit, a “slut,” a coward, and a man hiding beneath a woman’s skirt.
• Ksitigarbha becomes increasingly enraged and suspects that the intruder may be Lady Meng, one of the most mysterious and powerful figures in the Underworld.
• He challenges the hidden woman to reveal herself and fight openly, but she ignores his demands and continues her relentless verbal abuse.
• Ksitigarbha eventually loses his temper and threatens her, yet remains powerless to stop the voice or locate its source.
• The truth is revealed to the reader: Qin Fen has been sharing and replaying a song called “Aunt Xue, Open the Door,” apparently directing the lyrics toward Ksitigarbha. Qin then casually goes to find food while Ksitigarbha suffers.
• The accusations are completely mistaken: Ksitigarbha has not stolen a man but has merely captured a demon. His confusion and anger intensify as the song continues.

Character Developments

• Ksitigarbha: His usually disciplined and patient nature deteriorates under the nonstop harassment. He becomes suspicious, furious, and increasingly irrational, even breaking his composure and nearly violating his Buddhist precepts through anger and profanity. His inability to locate the speaker damages his confidence and leaves him feeling helpless.
• Qin Fen: He is revealed as the source of the disturbance, though he is largely unaware—or unconcerned—about the psychological torment he is causing. His casual hunger after waking in the night contrasts humorously with Ksitigarbha’s mounting rage.
• Lady Meng: She is briefly suspected because of her mysterious status and unknown strength, but the chapter makes clear she is innocent. She humorously “catches a stray bullet” when Ksitigarbha thinks of her as the culprit.
• Fu Wenpei: Mentioned repeatedly by the voice, though her role remains unclear. Her name contributes to Ksitigarbha’s confusion.

Significant Themes

• Comedic misunderstanding: Ksitigarbha interprets song lyrics as a deliberate supernatural attack, while the situation is actually caused by Qin Fen’s casual music-sharing.
• Powerlessness despite great strength: Even with multiple divine abilities, Ksitigarbha cannot identify or stop the source of the voice, showing that overwhelming power does not guarantee control.
• Loss of composure: The chapter humorously portrays the collapse of Ksitigarbha’s dignity, patience, and spiritual calm under sustained provocation.
• Contrast between appearance and reality: The event seems like a confrontation with an unfathomable female immortal, but the real cause is mundane and absurd.
• Verbal abuse as psychological warfare: The invisible speaker’s repetitive insults are more effective than a physical attack, driving Ksitigarbha close to madness.

Character Interactions

• Ksitigarbha and the unseen voice: Their interaction is almost entirely one-sided. Ksitigarbha repeatedly demands identification, challenges the speaker to fight, and threatens retaliation, while the voice answers only with mocking accusations and insults.
• Ksitigarbha and Lady Meng: There is no direct interaction, but Ksitigarbha’s suspicion reflects Lady Meng’s reputation as an ancient, mysterious, and potentially unbeatable figure.
• Qin Fen and Ksitigarbha: Qin Fen indirectly torments Ksitigarbha by replaying the song, creating the chapter’s central comic conflict without realizing how seriously Ksitigarbha takes it.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Ksitigarbha is driven to the edge of rage and despair during the Ghost Festival. His plans for the Netherworld and his ritual assembly are already threatened by chaos, including the Demon Tribe’s interference, the loss of his subordinates, and his failure to deal with Listening Truth.
• A woman repeatedly calls for someone named “Fu Wenpei” outside Ksitigarbha’s territory, singing an outrageous song accusing someone of hypocrisy and infidelity. Ksitigarbha realizes the performance is not genuine and is intended to provoke and mentally torment him.
• Suspicious of Snow Lion, Ksitigarbha asks whether he is Fu Wenpei. Snow Lion denies it and proudly identifies himself as the Silver-Whiskered King, but Ksitigarbha kicks him in anger.
• Snow Lion threatens that his ancestor will come to rescue him. Ksitigarbha welcomes the possibility, hoping the ancestor’s arrival will reveal who is manipulating the Ghost Festival.
• A powerful old lion from the Demon Tribe finally appears, angrily demanding Snow Lion’s release. Ksitigarbha recognizes him as the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage and concludes that he is connected to the woman’s provocation and the broader plot against his ritual assembly.
• The chapter ends with Ksitigarbha confronting the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, his suppressed anger erupting as old suspicions and new grievances converge.

Character developments

• Ksitigarbha: His normally dignified, composed Bodhisattva persona collapses under accumulated pressure. His anxiety over the Ghost Festival, personal ambitions, and inability to understand the enemy’s plans make him unusually emotional, irritable, and reckless. Once he identifies the likely culprit, his confusion turns into focused hostility.
• Snow Lion: He remains boastful and foolish, trying to maintain his pride even while captured. His defiance and appeal to his ancestor unintentionally help lead Ksitigarbha to the true opposing force.
• Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage: Introduced as Snow Lion’s powerful ancestor, he is confident enough to confront Ksitigarbha directly and demand his grandson’s release. His arrival confirms that the Demon Tribe is actively involved in the conflict.
• The mysterious woman: Though her identity is not confirmed, her provocative behavior appears to be a deliberate disguise or distraction intended to disturb Ksitigarbha and conceal the real attacker.

Significant themes

• The collapse of composure under pressure: Even an exalted Bodhisattva can be destabilized when his plans, reputation, and interests are threatened.
• Deception and psychological warfare: The woman’s bizarre singing and accusations are used to confuse and torment Ksitigarbha rather than to communicate honestly.
• Chaos and hidden manipulation: The Ghost Festival has become a tangled conflict in which the Netherworld, the Demon Tribe, and outside actors interfere with one another.
• Pride and provocation: Snow Lion’s arrogance and the ancestor’s bold challenge intensify Ksitigarbha’s anger and turn a confusing situation into a direct confrontation.
• Hypocrisy and moral disorder: The song’s accusations about sexual double standards mock Ksitigarbha’s sense of dignity and contribute to his feeling that social and heavenly principles are being overturned.

Character interactions

• Ksitigarbha interrogates and abuses Snow Lion in frustration, while Snow Lion responds with defiance and threats of ancestral rescue.
• The unseen woman taunts Ksitigarbha through repeated calls and a provocative song, creating a one-sided but psychologically effective confrontation.
• The Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage then directly challenges Ksitigarbha, demanding Snow Lion’s release. Ksitigarbha recognizes him as the likely mastermind and responds with open hostility, setting up their impending conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Ksitigarbha, Behold My Cleaver!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ksitigarbha recognizes Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage as the powerful figure who had previously thwarted his plans. He also concludes—incorrectly—that Taiyi Perfected Person was responsible for sabotaging the Ghost Gate.
• Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage arrives to rescue Snow Lion, his last surviving descendant, who is badly injured after fighting Ksitigarbha.
• Ksitigarbha and Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage prepare for a major battle, each activating powerful Buddhist or demonic abilities. Their confrontation is expected to be prolonged because both are supreme experts with strong defenses and hidden techniques.
• Qin Fen, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, watches events through his phone while eating instant noodles. Still angry at Ksitigarbha for ruining his sleep, he decides to send an emoji attack rather than a bomb.
• Qin launches a cleaver emoji based on a famous movie weapon. It transforms the black demonic wind surrounding Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage into a giant cleaver inscribed “National Hero,” which flies toward Ksitigarbha’s lower body.
• The cleaver cannot be stopped by Ksitigarbha’s defenses. Distracted and shocked, he is struck in the face by Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage’s kick.
• Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage uses the confusion to seize Snow Lion and escape. The cleaver then disappears, leaving Ksitigarbha humiliated and convinced that he has been ambushed through some kind of illusion.
• Ksitigarbha vows to remember the “karma” of Taiyi Perfected Person and Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, wrongly attributing Qin Fen’s interference to them.

Character Developments

• Ksitigarbha: His anger intensifies after identifying his supposed enemies, but his confidence is undermined by Qin’s unpredictable emoji attack. Despite his formidable strength and composure, he is distracted, struck, and humiliated.
• Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage: He is portrayed as fiercely protective of Snow Lion and deeply attached to his family. Rather than seeking a decisive battle, he prioritizes rescuing his descendant and successfully escapes by exploiting Ksitigarbha’s distraction.
• Snow Lion: Though badly wounded, he is relieved and excited when his ancestor arrives. His dependence on Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage highlights the latter’s importance to him.
• Qin Fen/Chef Qin: He remains completely unaware of the larger consequences of his actions. Treating the supernatural conflict like an entertaining online spectacle, he retaliates against Ksitigarbha with a childish but devastatingly effective emoji.
• Taiyi Perfected Person: He does not appear directly, but Ksitigarbha repeatedly blames him for events he did not cause, making him an unwitting target of Qin’s “stray shells.”

Significant Themes

• Comic disruption of epic conflict: A battle between ancient Buddhist and demonic powers is derailed by Qin Fen’s casual use of a phone emoji.
• Misunderstanding and misplaced blame: Ksitigarbha misinterprets Qin’s attacks as the work of Taiyi Perfected Person and Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, creating further tension between powerful figures.
• Family loyalty: Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage’s immediate willingness to risk himself for Snow Lion emphasizes devotion to family and descendants.
• Humiliation of the mighty: Even supreme experts can be defeated—or at least embarrassed—by absurd, unpredictable forces.
• Technology and supernatural power: Qin’s modern digital tools operate within the magical world, producing effects that even ancient experts cannot understand or defend against.

Character Interactions

• Ksitigarbha and Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage face one another as bitter enemies, each preparing for a serious, high-level confrontation.
• Snow Lion begs Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage for help, and the old lion responds protectively, calling him “Grandson.”
• Qin Fen indirectly targets Ksitigarbha with the cleaver emoji, unaware that his attack interrupts the battle.
• Ksitigarbha attempts to defend against both Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage and the cleaver simultaneously, but the strange weapon distracts him long enough for the old lion’s kick to land.
• Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage escapes with Snow Lion, while Ksitigarbha is left injured, confused, and furious at the wrong enemies.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen tests the Heavenly Court emojis and discovers that, despite their impressive appearances and lofty origins, they possess almost no real destructive power. They are essentially “paper tigers” meant to intimidate rather than fight.
• He realizes that the emojis, combined with WeChat and his shameless personality, are ideal tools for deceiving immortals and pretending to be an expert.
• Ksitigarbha is devastated after his centuries-old plan is ruined. He blames Taiyi Perfected Person, whose actions prevented him from gaining control of the Underworld during the Ghost Festival.
• Using his Heavenly Eye, Ksitigarbha confirms that he has recovered only a fraction of the Underworld’s souls. Seeing the Underworld celebrating, he becomes enraged and spits blood, feeling that his grand ritual and preparations have been defeated by the seemingly absurd game of Sparrow Tiles.
• Qin Fen explains that Ksitigarbha lost not merely because of WeChat’s tricks, but because powerful gods and immortals fail to understand ordinary people’s desire for happiness, comfort, and a peaceful life.
• The next morning, Qin Fen finds the villa empty. After breakfast, he checks WeChat and sees that both the Heavenly Court and Underworld are occupied without him, leaving him bored.
• He goes for a walk on the beach, where he encounters a familiar model, nicknamed “World’s Biggest Balloon.” She invites him to visit an advertising shoot, and Qin Fen eagerly agrees because he is curious about the glamorous world of photography, modeling, and directing.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates greater insight into how to exploit the emojis’ intimidating appearances. He recognizes that psychological manipulation is more valuable than actual combat strength. He also articulates his ordinary, pleasure-oriented philosophy: people want to live happily and comfortably rather than chase grand promises. His carefree personality remains evident as he enjoys the beach and eagerly follows the model to the advertisement shoot.
• Ksitigarbha: Suffers a major emotional and strategic collapse. His centuries-long scheme has effectively failed, and he is left confused, furious, and humiliated. He becomes especially resentful toward Taiyi Perfected Person and cannot understand how gambling and a seemingly ridiculous game defeated his elaborate religious preparations.
• Taiyi Perfected Person: Although he does not appear directly, he is identified as the key person who disrupted Ksitigarbha’s plan and became the foremost “innocent bystander” caught in Qin Fen’s schemes.
• Song Shaoqing and Sun Yating: Their absence from the villa creates Qin Fen’s temporary loneliness and boredom, though no explanation is given beyond Song Shaoqing having other matters to attend to.
• The model: She recognizes Qin Fen through his connection with Song Shaoqing and provides the transition from his quiet day at home to the advertising shoot.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The powerful-looking emojis are almost completely harmless, emphasizing that impressive presentation can matter more than genuine strength.
• Deception and psychological warfare: Qin Fen’s success comes from exploiting expectations and manipulating how immortals interpret symbols, rather than defeating them through force.
• The limits of divine authority: Ksitigarbha’s failure suggests that gods and immortals, despite their power, may not understand ordinary human desires.
• Happiness and contentment: Qin Fen argues that people primarily want a peaceful, enjoyable life. Simple happiness and everyday satisfaction can defeat grand promises and religious spectacle.
• Comedy through inversion: A solemn Buddhist ritual is defeated by gambling and Sparrow Tiles, while supposedly divine weapons function only as props. The chapter repeatedly turns lofty settings and figures into objects of ridicule.
• Enjoyment over ambition: Qin Fen rejects the conventional pursuit of wealth and status, preferring leisure, good food, beautiful scenery, and immediate enjoyment.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen mentally mocks and analyzes Ksitigarbha’s failure while eating noodles, creating a sharp contrast between his casual attitude and Ksitigarbha’s despair.
• Ksitigarbha’s resentment is directed toward Taiyi Perfected Person, whom he believes destroyed his carefully prepared plan.
• Qin Fen reflects on the difference between ordinary people and immortals, effectively answering Ksitigarbha’s confusion about why his scheme failed.
• At the beach, Qin Fen meets the model, who greets him warmly and asks why he is not with Song Shaoqing. Their conversation leads him to the advertisement set.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen enthusiastically following her, shifting the story from supernatural scheming to a lighter, modern social setting.

Chapter Summary: Chef Qin Is Entering the Photography World Again

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen visits a beach photoshoot after being invited by one of the models, nicknamed Big Balloon.
• The shoot has stalled because the scheduled photographer suddenly refuses to work, leaving the models, staff, clothing, and equipment idle.
• Qin discovers that the team is preparing both a women’s clothing advertisement and a men’s-wear shoot, including striking leather outfits.
• Curious about the professional camera, Qin asks to try it. Once he looks through the lens, his special abilities—Thousand-Mile Eye and Weaver Girl’s Fine Manipulation—combine, allowing him to perceive details, composition, and beauty with extraordinary clarity.
• Qin instinctively begins directing the models, giving precise instructions about their poses, positioning, posture, and expressions.
• He takes several photographs, including dramatic shots of a model emerging from the water in black leather. The images are so polished that they appear comparable to work by elite international photographers.
• The graphic designer finds that the first photograph requires almost no editing, while the models and staff are amazed by Qin’s natural talent.
• When someone asks where the “master photographer” was hired, Qin casually reveals that he was only there to have fun, leaving everyone stunned.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Displays his usual curiosity and confidence, but also reveals a previously unknown talent for photography. His supernatural perception transforms him into an instinctive expert who can direct models and capture flawless images without formal training.
• The models: Initially treat Qin with admiration and curiosity because of his connection to Song Shaoqing. They quickly become surprised—and impressed—when he begins confidently directing them.
• The staff and graphic designer: Begin skeptical or uncertain about Qin’s involvement, but gradually recognize his exceptional skill and regard him as a professional-level photographer.
• Big Balloon: Helps bring Qin into the group and becomes the first model to pose for him, unintentionally triggering his photographic insight.

Significant Themes

• Hidden talent and effortless mastery: Qin’s abilities allow him to excel in photography without preparation, suggesting that his supernatural skills can produce unexpected talents in ordinary fields.
• The fusion of divine abilities: Thousand-Mile Eye’s perception and Weaver Girl’s sense of beauty combine to create a powerful new effect, much like Qin’s earlier experience combining other abilities while making clothing.
• Appearance, beauty, and presentation: The chapter emphasizes modeling, fashion, physical poses, and the way photography can capture or enhance beauty.
• Humor through contrast: Qin sees the shoot as entertainment, while everyone else treats it as an important professional job. His casual attitude contrasts sharply with the stunning quality of his results.
• Recognition from ordinary people: Qin’s extraordinary nature becomes apparent to those around him, even though he himself does not fully regard his actions as remarkable.

Character Interactions

• Qin is surrounded by models who question him about his physique, lifestyle, and unusual calluses, but he avoids answering directly.
• The models explain the failed shoot and their financial concerns, prompting Qin to sympathize with their difficulties.
• Qin asks the staff to let him use the camera, and the staff agree after one of the girls vouches for him.
• He takes command of the models and staff, directing them with surprising authority and precision.
• The models follow his instructions despite their initial confusion, while the staff assist him as though he were the official photographer.
• After seeing the finished images, the entire group praises Qin’s work, only to be shocked when he says he was merely “there to have fun.”

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen visits a modeling/photo shoot simply “to have fun,” but ends up taking over as the photographer after the original photographer fails to appear.
• His calm instructions, natural authority, and impressive photography skills immediately win over the models and staff.
• Everyone assumes Qin Fen is a highly skilled professional photographer, possibly someone connected to one of the models, while he carefully avoids revealing that he is actually a cook.
• The staff ask to use his photographs for the project and offer him compensation. Qin Fen is surprised that his improvised work is considered professional-level.
• Qin Fen asks to keep a leather costume used in the shoot. His request causes the models and staff to misunderstand his motives and assume he has a particular sexual interest in the outfit.
• Embarrassed by their reactions and afraid that further conversation might expose him as a cook pretending to be a photographer, Qin Fen leaves with the costume.
• Shortly afterward, Sea House’s boss arrives with Sun Yating and Song Shaoqing. The boss praises Qin Fen’s photographs.
• Song Shaoqing and Sun Yating reveal that they know Qin Fen. Sun Yating exposes the truth: Qin Fen is not a photographer but a cook, whose cooking is even better than his photography.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates unexpected talent, confidence, and authority as a photographer, despite having no professional experience. He enjoys fooling around but becomes increasingly anxious about being exposed. His embarrassment over the leather outfit and his quick escape highlight his playful yet self-protective personality.
• The models: Initially frustrated by the absent photographer, they quickly become enthusiastic and cooperative under Qin Fen’s direction. They develop an admiring and teasing attitude toward him.
• The staff: Shift from irritation and uncertainty to respect and admiration after seeing Qin Fen’s photographs. They mistakenly believe he is an elite photographer and interpret his behavior through that assumption.
• Sun Yating: Recognizes Qin Fen’s habit of neglecting his proper work and reacts with exasperation, but also proudly reveals his true culinary ability.
• Song Shaoqing: Knows Qin Fen from a previous financial dispute and helps establish that Qin Fen has connections beyond the photo shoot.
• Sea House’s boss: Arrives expecting to inspect the project, approves of the photographs, and is surprised to learn that their creator is actually a chef.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and mistaken identity: Qin Fen’s photography skill causes everyone to construct an elaborate but incorrect identity for him.
• Hidden talent and versatility: The chapter humorously presents Qin Fen as unusually capable in an unexpected field, reinforcing his image as a multifaceted character.
• Social assumptions and appearances: The staff interpret Qin Fen’s behavior, relationships, and request for the leather outfit according to stereotypes about photographers and models.
• Improvisation and confidence: Qin Fen succeeds because he acts decisively and naturally, even while improvising in an unfamiliar profession.
• Humor through embarrassment: Much of the comedy comes from the gap between Qin Fen’s innocent or practical intentions and everyone else’s suggestive assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen commands the models during the shoot, earning their cooperation and admiration.
• The staff negotiate with him to keep and use his photographs, treating him as a professional master.
• The models and staff tease Qin Fen after he asks for the leather outfit, mistakenly believing they understand his private motives.
• Qin Fen exchanges awkward farewells with the models before fleeing the set.
• Sun Yating and Song Shaoqing meet Sea House’s boss and identify Qin Fen, overturning the staff’s assumptions and revealing the comic truth about his real profession.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen’s photography unexpectedly impresses everyone on the Sea House advertising shoot. Although he is known primarily as Lotus Pavilion’s executive head chef, his photographs are judged to be professional and highly effective.
• Sea House’s boss initially doubts that a chef could produce quality advertising images, but after viewing the photographs, he immediately orders Qin Fen’s work to be used for the campaign and instructs the staff to replace the existing posters.
• Sun Yating confirms Qin Fen’s identity and reputation, revealing that he is the celebrated Chef Qin. The boss connects Qin Fen’s status with his own knowledge of famous chefs, including Rogers, and becomes even more convinced of Qin’s extraordinary abilities.
• The staff are astonished by Qin Fen’s hidden talent and privately speculate about his unusual interests, especially after recalling the black leather outfit he took away.
• After Qin Fen and the executives leave, the set waits for Wang Shicong, a young, famous photographer originally hired for the job.
• Wang arrives expecting everyone to be desperate for him to begin. He intends to deliberately criticize the previous work so that the client will need to flatter or rely on him.
• Instead, Wang discovers that Qin Fen’s photographs have already been accepted and are being edited. He recognizes their strong composition but becomes jealous and defensive.
• Claiming that the photographs are mediocre and unauthorized, Wang orders the designer to delete them and announces that the shoot will start over.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: His reputation expands beyond cooking. His photography demonstrates that his exceptional talent and professionalism extend into multiple fields, reinforcing his image as an unusually gifted “all-rounder.”
• Sun Yating: She continues to act as a knowledgeable intermediary, confirming Qin Fen’s identity and quietly worrying that his abilities may attract unwanted attention or attempts to recruit him.
• Sea House’s boss: He shifts rapidly from skepticism to admiration. He proves himself practical and business-minded, prioritizing the quality of Qin Fen’s work and using his authority to approve it immediately.
• Wang Shicong: He is introduced as talented, ambitious, and arrogant. His confidence depends partly on controlling the situation and being treated as indispensable. Discovering Qin Fen’s superior work exposes his insecurity and causes him to act possessively and unfairly.
• The staff and models: Their initial anxiety turns into amazement and amusement. They begin to admire Qin Fen and enjoy watching the tension surrounding Wang’s arrival.

Significant Themes

• Hidden talent and versatility: Qin Fen’s success as both a chef and photographer suggests that true mastery can cross professional boundaries.
• Professional status versus actual ability: The staff initially assume a chef cannot produce professional photographs, but the quality of Qin’s work proves that skill matters more than job title.
• Ego and insecurity: Wang’s reaction shows how professional pride can become jealousy when someone else unexpectedly outperforms an established expert.
• Power and reputation: Qin Fen’s connections, fame, and the trust of influential people help secure the campaign, while Wang attempts to use his own reputation to regain control.
• Changing social expectations: The chapter humorously emphasizes how unusual Qin Fen’s range of abilities is, challenging conventional ideas about staying within one profession.

Character Interactions

• Sun Yating explains Qin Fen’s identity to the Sea House boss, strengthening the boss’s respect for him.
• The boss praises Qin Fen indirectly by approving his photographs and ordering the campaign to use them.
• The staff silently bond over their disbelief and admiration, while also joking about Qin Fen’s unusual fashion-related interests.
• Wang’s subordinates flatter and accommodate him, reinforcing his sense of importance.
• Wang questions the graphic designer about Qin Fen’s photographs, then attempts to undermine them by ordering their deletion, setting up a confrontation between Qin Fen’s proven ability and Wang’s wounded pride.

Chapter Summary: “Wind Stirred, Clouds Moved, Faces Hurt”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Shicong arrives to take charge of a Sea House advertising shoot, assuming the earlier photographs are unfinished and that he has authority over the project.
• He orders the models and crew to change clothes and prepare for a new shoot, but Xiao Hua and Big Balloon explain that the assignment was already completed that morning.
• Wang refuses to believe them, becomes increasingly aggressive, and demands that the existing photographs be deleted and replaced with his own work.
• The crew and models remain uncooperative because the photographs have already been approved, printed, and installed on a giant LED billboard and nearby bus-stop advertisements.
• While Wang threatens to prevent everyone from leaving until the shoot is completed, the group notices the advertisements displaying the very photographs he dismissed as amateurish.
• The site manager reveals that Sea House’s highly selective owner personally chose the photographs and would only accept images taken by “Master Qin.”
• Wang learns that Master Qin is Qin Fen, the head chef of Lotus Pavilion Restaurant—not a professional photographer.
• The revelation humiliates Wang, who has just been surpassed by someone from outside the photography industry.

Character Developments

• Wang Shicong is portrayed as arrogant, controlling, and deeply concerned with professional status. He assumes his reputation gives him unquestioned authority, but his confidence collapses when he discovers that the rejected photographs were officially selected and publicly displayed.
• Xiao Hua and Big Balloon become more assertive. Rather than obeying Wang’s unreasonable demands, they defend the completed work and insist on being paid for their time.
• The production crew and site managers quietly resist Wang’s behavior. They avoid openly confronting him but clearly recognize that he is making a fool of himself.
• Qin Fen does not appear directly, but his unseen success drives the chapter. His photography is validated by the client’s approval, and his skill contrasts sharply with Wang’s arrogance.

Significant Themes

• Professionalism versus status: Wang believes professional credentials and reputation guarantee superior results, but Qin Fen’s work proves that talent matters more than labels.
• Arrogance and humiliation: Wang’s dismissive attitude turns into embarrassment when his supposed “amateur” photographs are revealed to be the client’s preferred images.
• Authority and competence: Wang tries to impose control through threats, but his authority is meaningless because the actual decision-maker—the Sea House owner—has already approved the work.
• Unexpected talent: Qin Fen’s success as both a chef and photographer reinforces the theme that ability can emerge in unexpected places.
• Public validation: The giant advertisements serve as undeniable proof that the photographs succeeded, making Wang’s criticism appear foolish.

Character Interactions

• Wang attempts to command Xiao Hua, Big Balloon, and the other models, but they challenge him by explaining that the shoot is already complete.
• Big Balloon directly pushes back against Wang’s bullying tone, while the other girls support her by demanding payment and refusing to wait unnecessarily.
• Wang confronts the planning staff for allowing the earlier shoot, but they give evasive answers rather than openly defending him.
• The crew silently mocks Wang as he insists on reshooting, watching him demand the deletion of images that have already been selected and installed.
• The site manager finally explains the truth about the advertisements and identifies Qin Fen as the photographer, delivering the final blow to Wang’s pride.

Chapter Summary: “Ghost Festival Ends, Red Packets Can Now Be Enabled”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen hosts a candlelit seafood dinner at his villa with Sun Yating, Song Shaoqing, and Song’s talented female assistant.
• Sun Yating becomes irritated because Song Shaoqing and his assistant arrive uninvited and eat as though they are the hosts. Song also discovers that Qin Fen used precious Monkey Wine in the cooking.
• During dinner, Food God sends Qin Fen 5,000 Merit as thanks for Qin Fen’s recent help during the Ghost Festival. Food God credits Qin Fen—or the supposed “Patriarch”—with protecting him and respectfully expresses his gratitude.
• Lu Pan then sends Qin Fen 10,000 Merit. Qin Fen realizes the Underworld’s successful resurgence during the Ghost Festival has led to generous rewards.
• When Qin Fen’s balance reaches 20,000, Heavenly Court WeChat prompts him to upgrade. He initially hesitates because upgrading would consume nearly all his Merit.
• Ox-Head, Horse-Face, and Black-and-White Impermanence send another 4,000 Merit, allowing Qin Fen to upgrade without becoming completely broke. He accepts.
• The upgrade activates Heavenly Character Version 2.0, adding Heavenly Court News Flash and the Red Packet Feature.
• Qin Fen reads a news report announcing that the Ghost Festival has ended peacefully, the Underworld has prospered, and the Heavenly Dao has awarded Merit.
• The report specifically praises Ksitigarbha for saving living beings. Qin Fen, recognizing Ksitigarbha as an enemy, opens his profile and discovers a massive red packet.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains pragmatic, greedy, and opportunistic. He views Merit and divine treasures as resources to be used rather than preserved, and he confidently exploits his relationships with powerful immortals.
• He becomes more influential among the Underworld’s lower-ranking figures, who now regard him as a powerful protector or mysterious Patriarch.
• Food God grows more aware of the importance of strength outside the Heavenly Court’s protection. His dependence on Qin Fen deepens, and he becomes increasingly respectful and submissive.
• Lu Pan and the Underworld officials demonstrate their gratitude through generous payments, showing that Qin Fen’s assistance has significantly improved his standing.
• Sun Yating remains sharp and perceptive. Although she notices Qin Fen behaving strangely during the meal, she wisely chooses not to question him.
• Ksitigarbha is further established as Qin Fen’s ideological and personal opponent. Despite the Ghost Festival’s success, he receives public praise and Heavenly Dao Merit.

Significant Themes

• Power and dependence: The Ghost Festival demonstrates that survival among immortals depends heavily on personal strength and alliances rather than official status alone.
• Material rewards and opportunism: Qin Fen treats Merit, divine wine, and supernatural favors as practical assets, emphasizing his businesslike approach to cultivation and relationships.
• Public reputation versus reality: Many grassroots immortals believe Qin Fen is an unfathomably powerful Natural Daoist, while Ksitigarbha correctly suspects that he is actually connected to Taiyi Perfected Person.
• The tension between enemies: The news praises Ksitigarbha, but Qin Fen’s immediate curiosity about his red packet suggests that even an enemy’s rewards may be useful.
• Modern technology in the divine world: Heavenly Court WeChat continues to merge social media, finance, news, and supernatural cultivation, introducing new opportunities through its upgraded functions.

Character Interactions

• Sun Yating sarcastically criticizes Song Shaoqing for acting refined while freely eating at Qin Fen’s home.
• Song Shaoqing ignores her hostility, having become accustomed to her aggressive personality, while his assistant is left awkward and unable to respond.
• Qin Fen privately chats with Food God during dinner, accepting his gratitude and reinforcing their subordinate-like relationship.
• Food God treats Qin Fen as a revered Patriarch, while Qin Fen views him as a useful and increasingly loyal client.
• Qin Fen’s relationship with Lu Pan and the Underworld officials is likewise transactional: their gratitude produces Merit, and Qin Fen sees them as wealthy clients worth cultivating.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen discovering Ksitigarbha’s enormous red packet, setting up the next major interaction.

Chapter Summary: “Chef Qin Snatches a Red Packet, Ksitigarbha Cries”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a meal at Lotus Pavilion, Qin Fen notices that Ksitigarbha has sent a Heavenly Court WeChat red packet.
• Qin immediately realizes the packet likely contains Merit earned from Ksitigarbha’s Ghost Festival Assembly. Seeing an opportunity to undermine his enemy, Qin aggressively snatches it.
• Thanks to his extraordinary luck, Qin obtains 3,700 Merit points, raising his total balance to 7,719 points.
• Qin’s success contrasts sharply with Ksitigarbha’s worsening situation. Ksitigarbha’s plans in the Underworld have failed because of interference from Taiyi Perfected Person, the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, and the mysterious “Natural Daoist.”
• Although Ksitigarbha expects a substantial reward from the Heavenly Dao for organizing the Ghost Festival Assembly, the arriving Merit Golden Light shrinks dramatically before reaching him.
• The reward, originally about the size of a cup, diminishes to the size of a fountain pen and provides only an amount comparable to an ordinary good deed.
• Ksitigarbha is left confused, humiliated, and bitter, while Listening Truth also cannot understand what caused the deduction.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Reveals his opportunistic, vindictive, and mischievous nature. He is delighted by his luck and shows confidence in his ability to exploit Heavenly Court’s systems. His growing Merit balance and upgraded abilities indicate his increasing influence.
• Ksitigarbha: Suffers a major psychological setback. Already frustrated by the failure of his Underworld plans, he now feels betrayed and cheated by the Heavenly Dao’s meager reward. His despair exposes how heavily he depends on Merit and recognition.
• Listening Truth: Remains confused by the strange reduction in Ksitigarbha’s reward and is unable to identify the cause.
• Taiyi Perfected Person and the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage: Though absent, they are established as the hidden forces responsible for disrupting Ksitigarbha’s schemes.
• The Heavenly Dao: Is portrayed as active but mysterious, rewarding deeds according to unknown rules and apparently allowing Qin Fen to intercept Ksitigarbha’s Merit.

Significant Themes

• Luck and opportunism: Qin Fen’s success depends on his exceptional luck, while Ksitigarbha’s carefully planned efforts yield almost nothing.
• Bureaucracy and cosmic systems: The Heavenly Court’s WeChat platform turns divine Merit into something resembling a modern financial or administrative system, complete with red packets and data fees.
• Power struggles and hidden alliances: Ksitigarbha realizes that powerful figures are working together against him, while their true identities and motives remain obscured.
• Merit and fairness: The chapter questions whether divine rewards are truly proportional to effort. Ksitigarbha performs a major ritual but receives an unexpectedly tiny reward.
• Humor through divine modernization: Heavenly beings use familiar modern technology, creating comic contrast between ancient spiritual powers and online red packets, automatic navigation, and internet connectivity.
• The vulnerability of powerful figures: Despite Ksitigarbha’s status, he cannot challenge or even question the Heavenly Dao, leaving him powerless before forces greater than himself.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen interacts indirectly with Ksitigarbha by stealing the red packet meant for him, turning the Heavenly Dao’s reward into a personal victory.
• Ksitigarbha’s past conflict with Taiyi Perfected Person and the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage shapes his interpretation of recent events; he concludes they collaborated to ruin his plans.
• Ksitigarbha and Listening Truth share a moment of confusion over the inexplicably reduced reward, though neither can explain it.
• Qin Fen and Ksitigarbha are presented in deliberate parallel: Qin celebrates an unexpected windfall, while Ksitigarbha mourns the loss of the reward he believed he had earned.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen ignores everything else while obsessively snatching Merit and benefits from the Heavenly Court group chat, completely forgetting his grudge against Ksitigarbha.
• During an awkward meal with Sun Yating and Song Shaoqing, Qin Fen receives a message from Bai Xiaojie—Sun Yujie’s disguised online identity—inviting him to eat. He declines because he is away on a business trip, while Sun Yating and the others notice the strange emotional tension surrounding him.
• Song Shaoqing leaves with his assistant after hinting that Qin Fen should understand the ambiguous relationship between himself and Sun Yating. Qin Fen privately admits that he and Sun Yating are closer than ordinary friends, but he lacks the courage to express romantic feelings face-to-face.
• Back in his room, Qin Fen examines a black leather bodysuit he stole from a beach photography set. He photographs it, intending to discard the original while preserving the design so he can reproduce it later.
• Sun Yating arrives to ask Qin Fen to play video games. Worried she may discover the bodysuit, Qin Fen hides it under his blanket and tries to stop her from tidying the bed.
• Sun Yating shakes out the blanket, causing the bodysuit to vanish through Qin Fen’s supernatural messaging system. Qin Fen realizes that photographing the item has apparently sent it to someone else—possibly everyone in the Heavenly Court group.
• Bai Xiaojie messages him, teasing him about his “heavy tastes,” confirming that she received the photograph. The chapter ends with the Queen Mother receiving the actual leather bodysuit and angrily summoning the Natural Daoist, believing Qin Fen responsible.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Shows his usual shameless confidence online but becomes awkward and insecure around women in person. His fear of romantic confrontation with Sun Yating contrasts with his boldness when chatting through his phone. His careless handling of the bodysuit once again creates an embarrassing supernatural disaster.
• Sun Yating: Becomes increasingly suspicious and inquisitive. Her playful insistence on entering Qin Fen’s room and straightening his blanket suggests curiosity about what he is hiding and hints at her awareness of the tension between them.
• Sun Yujie/Bai Xiaojie: Takes the initiative by inviting Qin Fen to eat and later promising to treat him to barbecue. Her teasing response to the photograph reveals a growing, flirtatious rapport with him.
• Song Shaoqing: Acts as an observer of the relationship between Qin Fen and Sun Yating. His knowing look implies that he recognizes their mutual attraction more clearly than Qin Fen does.
• Queen Mother: Receives the bizarre bodysuit without understanding its origin, immediately suspecting the Natural Daoist and setting up another comedic confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Romantic awkwardness and emotional avoidance: Qin Fen is fearless in dangerous or supernatural situations but cannot directly express affection, especially to Sun Yating.
• Online versus real-life identity: Qin Fen is confident and uninhibited through messaging but clumsy and pressured in face-to-face interactions.
• Accidental consequences of supernatural technology: An ordinary photograph unexpectedly causes the physical object to be transmitted to the Heavenly Court, turning a private embarrassment into a divine scandal.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Characters repeatedly misinterpret one another’s actions, particularly the women’s suspicions, Qin Fen’s hidden outfit, and the Queen Mother’s confusion.
• Growing interpersonal tension: The chapter emphasizes an emerging love triangle—or at least a complicated emotional dynamic—between Qin Fen, Sun Yating, and Sun Yujie.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating share a tense, flirtatious exchange during dinner and later engage in a playful struggle over the blanket.
• Qin Fen and Bai Xiaojie communicate warmly by phone, with her invitations and teasing suggesting mutual interest.
• Song Shaoqing silently recognizes Qin Fen and Sun Yating’s ambiguous relationship and leaves Qin Fen with a meaningful look.
• Qin Fen’s careless interaction with the supernatural chat system directly affects the Queen Mother, whose furious reaction becomes the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Queen Mother Wants to Blow Her Top, the Chef Is Helpless”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen accidentally sends a suggestive photograph—apparently depicting a provocative outfit—to a large group of contacts while using his phone.
• His acquaintances, including Bai Xiaojie, Yi Bendao, and former classmates, misinterpret the image as evidence of Qin Fen’s unusual tastes. Their teasing quickly becomes increasingly shameless, leaving him embarrassed and frustrated.
• Qin realizes that the message may also have been sent to someone from the Heavenly Court. After checking the transfer record, he discovers that the recipient was Queen Mother.
• Queen Mother angrily confronts him through their messages. Qin, unable to meet her physically and feeling unusually bold, responds by teasing her instead of apologizing.
• He claims the outfit was a gift chosen because it suited her temperament, even imagining her wearing it with metal accessories and intimidating boots. Queen Mother interprets his generosity as suspicious, believing that his mysterious identity and repeated gifts must conceal some ulterior motive.
• Qin eventually puts away his phone and goes downstairs, where Sun Yating invites him to play video games. She reveals that she also saw the photograph and jokes that his tastes are “heavy,” extending his humiliation.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly mortified as more people respond to the accidental message, but he also displays his usual shamelessness and confidence when dealing with Queen Mother. Rather than apologizing, he enjoys provoking her because they cannot physically confront one another.
• Queen Mother: Her anger and suspicion toward Qin intensify. She is easily provoked by him, yet also feels helpless whenever they interact. Her distrust leads her to assume that his gifts and strange behavior are part of a larger scheme.
• Sun Yujie: Misreads Qin’s “Whatever!” as a deliberate invitation to choose and model the outfit herself, showing both her curiosity and her willingness to tease him.
• Yi Bendao and Qin’s classmates: Serve as sources of comic embarrassment, enthusiastically twisting the innocent accident into something suggestive.
• Sun Yating: Continues the teasing at the end of the chapter, revealing that Qin’s embarrassment has followed him beyond his phone conversations.

Significant Themes

• Accidental communication and social embarrassment: A single careless action causes Qin widespread humiliation as different people construct their own interpretations of the image.
• Misunderstanding and unreliable interpretation: Nearly everyone assumes Qin intentionally sent the picture or has a particular fetish, while he knows it was an accident.
• Playful antagonism: Qin and Queen Mother maintain a relationship built on provocation, anger, and verbal sparring. Their inability to meet in person makes Qin more daring.
• Suspicion and hidden motives: Queen Mother’s paranoia reflects the broader uncertainty surrounding Qin’s mysterious identity and unexplained gifts.
• Comic contrast between intention and consequence: Qin’s accidental message produces increasingly absurd reactions, turning a minor mistake into a major social crisis.

Character Interactions

• Qin exchanges awkward and suggestive messages with Bai Xiaojie and Sun Yujie, who both interpret the photograph as intentional.
• Yi Bendao responds with crude enthusiasm, attempting to turn the incident into an opportunity to exchange costumes.
• Qin’s female classmates tease him about the image, joking that it has improved their husbands’ behavior or asking where he bought the outfit.
• Queen Mother angrily demands an explanation, but Qin counters with flirtatious provocation and presents the outfit as a gift suited to her personality.
• Sun Yating confronts Qin with the photograph in person, ensuring that even after he escapes the online conversation, the embarrassment continues.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After spending the night gaming alone, Qin Fen begins the second phase of his plan: recruiting followers in the Heavenly Court and Earthly Immortal Realm.
• He contacts Fine Ghost, a low-ranking demon who survived the Ghost Festival’s chaos after the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage appeared.
• Qin Fen reveals that Fine Ghost was mistaken about who saved him. The “rescue” was actually caused by Qin Fen using his cleaver to seize control of the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage’s black wind.
• Fine Ghost is amazed by Qin Fen’s hidden strength and assumes he is even more powerful than the demon king they once served.
• Recognizing Qin Fen as a powerful backer, Fine Ghost quickly pledges loyalty and asks what they should do next.
• Fine Ghost explains that his scattered unit is starving. The Little Demons are too weak to hunt effectively and previously survived through scavenging, robbery, and supplies obtained by their former king.
• Qin Fen decides that these weak demons can still be useful as manpower. He promises to provide food and orders Fine Ghost to gather the surviving members of his unit.
• When Fine Ghost asks Qin Fen’s official title, Qin Fen considers several ridiculous names before settling on Dongre King.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen becomes more openly strategic and entrepreneurial. Rather than seeking powerful cultivators, he chooses to recruit expendable Little Demons who can serve as laborers, followers, and the foundation of a future force.
• He demonstrates confidence in his ability to support the group using his remaining Merit, while also showing irritation at the practical burdens of leadership.
• Qin Fen’s humorous, unconventional personality appears in his struggle to choose a title. He treats his identity almost like an online username and ultimately adopts the deliberately odd “Dongre King.”
• Fine Ghost changes from a frightened survivor into Qin Fen’s enthusiastic subordinate. Although weak and unintelligent, he is socially savvy enough to recognize strength and immediately attach himself to a powerful protector.
• Fine Ghost’s willingness to gather his former comrades gives Qin Fen an entry point into the demon world and the beginnings of an organized faction.

Significant Themes

• Power and loyalty: In the demon world, survival depends on finding a strong patron. Fine Ghost’s loyalty is based less on personal affection than on Qin Fen’s overwhelming strength and ability to provide protection.
• Building power from the bottom: Qin Fen does not begin with elite allies. He sees value in the lowest-ranking Little Demons, treating them as a workforce and potential army despite their lack of cultivation.
• Misunderstood identity and hidden strength: Qin Fen’s true abilities remain unknown to Fine Ghost, who greatly exaggerates and misunderstands his methods. This allows Qin Fen to cultivate an impressive reputation without revealing himself.
• Leadership and material support: The chapter emphasizes that followers need food and basic security before they can become useful soldiers. Qin Fen’s first responsibility as a leader is therefore logistical rather than heroic.
• Comedy through contrast: Qin Fen views the Heavenly Court’s demons through a modern, practical lens, comparing them to useless laborers and imagining wages, benefits, and organizational structures. His casual attitude contrasts with the demons’ reverence for titles and hierarchy.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Fine Ghost communicate through WeChat, with Qin Fen teasing him about the Ghost Festival and correcting his misunderstanding of the rescue.
• Fine Ghost repeatedly praises Qin Fen and addresses him as “King,” hoping to secure protection and a better future.
• Qin Fen questions Fine Ghost about the number and condition of his followers, learning that they are scattered, hungry, and dependent on leadership.
• Qin Fen reassures Fine Ghost, promises food, and orders him to reunite the group.
• Their relationship is established as one of pragmatic patronage: Fine Ghost supplies loyalty and connections, while Qin Fen supplies protection, food, and direction.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen officially presenting himself as Dongre King, giving his new faction a banner and identity.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

Qin Fen realizes it is already one in the morning and needs to obtain a large amount of food for the Little Demons. Wanting to save money, he drives to a private gas station, fills his car, and enters its convenience store. He decides that instant noodles are the most practical option because the demons may not know how to cook rice or prepare complicated dishes. After negotiating with the attendant, he orders ten cases of noodles. The attendant secretly offers him extremely cheap counterfeit brands, including fake “Kang Shuaifu” noodles and low-quality drinks. Although Qin Fen recognizes the goods as deceptive and feels morally uncomfortable, he accepts them because the demons live in harsh conditions, are unlikely to notice the difference, and need large quantities of affordable food. He ultimately buys ten cases of noodles and four cases of drinks for only five hundred yuan.

Character developments

Qin Fen is shown to be practical, frugal, and highly responsible toward the Little Demons. He carefully considers both their eating habits and his limited budget, even worrying about the cost of data required to feed them. At the same time, he has a strong sense of justice and dislikes the attendant’s sale of counterfeit goods, though necessity leads him to tolerate the transaction. His humorous self-image as the demons’ “king” highlights how seriously he takes his role as their provider.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes responsibility, resourcefulness, and the contrast between modern consumer culture and the demons’ primitive lifestyle. It also explores moral compromise: Qin Fen disapproves of counterfeit products but accepts them because they are inexpensive and unlikely to harm the demons. Humor comes from the absurd gap between Qin Fen’s BMW and his insistence on buying the cheapest food, as well as his exaggerated assumptions about the demons’ tastes and cooking abilities.

Character interactions

Qin Fen negotiates with the gas-station attendant, who is initially puzzled that someone driving an expensive BMW wants cheap bulk food. Their conversation becomes conspiratorial when the attendant reveals his hidden stock of counterfeit noodles and drinks. The attendant treats Qin Fen as a profitable customer, while Qin Fen remains skeptical but eventually cooperates. Their exchange exposes the attendant’s unethical side business and Qin Fen’s willingness to prioritize the Little Demons’ needs over his personal standards.

Chapter Summary: A Picture Too Beautiful: Little Demons Eat Kang Shuaifu Instant Noodles

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen drives to a secluded location and photographs food and supplies to send to Fine Ghost in the Heavenly Court. He is frustrated that anything transmitted cannot be stored and becomes only an ordinary photo if not sent.
• The supplies suddenly appear above Fine Ghost, startling him and the three Little Demons accompanying him. Fine Ghost assumes they are gifts from Qin Fen, whom he calls the “King.”
• Fine Ghost exaggerates Qin Fen’s power, boasting that Qin Fen is even stronger than the former Silver-Whiskered King and once defeated Ksitigarbha. The Little Demons become deeply impressed and pledge loyalty.
• Qin Fen initiates a video call. Fine Ghost orders the Little Demons to greet the invisible King, claiming that Qin Fen is “everywhere.” Qin Fen sarcastically responds, and his voice echoes through the area, convincing the demons that he truly possesses supernatural omnipresence.
• Qin Fen instructs them to boil water and prepare the instant noodles. Because the demons are illiterate, they cannot read the package directions and depend entirely on his spoken instructions.
• The Little Demons treat the cheap Kang Shuaifu instant noodles as an extraordinary delicacy. They mistake the seasoning packets and flavoring additives for precious spices and regard the deep-fried noodles and beef flavor as evidence of Qin Fen’s great generosity.
• After cooking the noodles in a battered pot and chipped bowls, the demons devour them with their hands and cry tears of emotion, overwhelmed by the delicious meal.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Acts as a distant, reluctant benefactor and discovers both the limitations of his transmission method and the extreme poverty of his followers. He becomes increasingly aware that Fine Ghost’s group needs discipline, education, and basic support.
• Fine Ghost: Uses Qin Fen’s reputation to strengthen his own authority, enthusiastically exaggerating Qin Fen’s achievements. He shifts from a desperate subordinate to a proud chief eager to command his followers and praise his king.
• The three Little Demons: Begin as hungry, disorganized followers but become intensely loyal after receiving food. Their awe reveals their ignorance, poverty, and tendency to interpret ordinary modern objects as miraculous treasures.

Significant Themes

• Culture clash and technological misunderstanding: Modern instant noodles, packaging, video calls, and voice transmission appear magical to illiterate demons unfamiliar with Earth’s technology.
• Poverty and inequality: The demons’ joy over a cheap packet of noodles exposes how deprived they are, contrasting sharply with the prosperity of the Heavenly Court and Qin Fen’s world.
• Power through generosity: Qin Fen gains authority not through direct force but by providing food. His supplies allow Fine Ghost to build loyalty and prestige.
• Illiteracy and perception: Because the demons cannot read, ordinary instructions and ingredients become mysterious symbols of wealth and power.
• Comedy through exaggeration: Fine Ghost’s boasts, the misunderstanding of Qin Fen’s “everywhere” comment, and the demons’ reverence for instant noodles create much of the chapter’s humor.

Character Interactions

• Fine Ghost constantly praises Qin Fen to impress the Little Demons and encourage their obedience.
• The Little Demons admire Fine Ghost for his supposed connection to the powerful King, while Fine Ghost enjoys the authority this association gives him.
• Qin Fen communicates remotely, correcting their preparation method and observing their reactions with a mixture of amusement, disbelief, and concern.
• The relationship between Qin Fen and the demons becomes more personal: the demons see him as a compassionate king, while Qin Fen begins viewing them as impoverished dependents who require guidance and reform.

Chapter Summary: “Following the King, Eating Well and Drinking Fine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fine Ghost and the three other low-level demons eat the instant noodles Qin Fen has provided. Having survived for a century on poor food while hiding in the mountains, they regard the noodles as an extraordinary delicacy.
• The demons become deeply emotional, comparing the meal to rare past experiences such as eating leftover roast chicken or being fed by their mothers.
• After finishing every drop of food, they gratefully pledge their loyalty to Qin Fen, whom they call the Great King. They contrast his generosity with their former ruler Silver Beard, who kept the best food for himself and gave them only scraps.
• Qin Fen tells them they will continue to receive food and gives them bottled drinks. The demons are fascinated by the colorful Wangzai drinks and interpret their sweet, milky flavor as reminiscent of their mothers.
• Once fed and satisfied, the demons quickly recover from their tears and reveal themselves as cheerful, optimistic, but extremely ragged and poorly equipped soldiers.
• Qin Fen notices that they have almost no combat ability, discipline, proper clothing, or weapons. Their best weapon is an iron rod, while the others possess only wooden clubs.
• He begins trying to organize and train them, ordering them to stand properly and count off. Their ignorance and strange accents make even this basic military exercise difficult.
• Qin Fen orders the four demons to take the remaining food and relocate to a better base near the sea. He chooses the coast because it is easier for him to monitor and because the area is connected to the Dragon Tribe, whose rulers are allied with the Heavenly Court.
• The demons happily accept the order, convinced that serving Qin Fen means regularly enjoying fine food and drink.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly aware that his new followers are disastrously undisciplined and poorly equipped. Though embarrassed and frustrated by their behavior, he also feels sympathy for their miserable lives and takes responsibility for improving them.
• Fine Ghost: Emerges as the most devoted and ambitious of the group. As the first demon to pledge loyalty to Qin Fen, he considers himself the king’s confidant and eagerly assumes a leadership role by directing the others.
• The three Little Demons: Show themselves to be naive, sentimental, honest, and easily impressed. Their fierce gratitude toward Qin Fen reflects how deprived they were under their previous ruler.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty earned through generosity: Qin Fen wins the demons’ devotion not through power or intimidation, but through something as simple as food and drink.
• Poverty and deprivation: The demons’ emotional reactions to cheap instant noodles and bottled beverages emphasize how severely neglected they have been.
• Leadership and reform: Qin Fen recognizes that loyalty alone is insufficient; he must give the demons discipline, organization, equipment, and a proper base.
• Comedy through cultural misunderstanding: Qin Fen views the food and drinks as cheap products, while the demons treat them as heavenly treasures. Their dramatic reactions and inability to perform basic military drills create much of the chapter’s humor.
• Optimism amid hardship: Despite their ragged condition and difficult past, the demons quickly return to cheerful enthusiasm once their immediate hunger is satisfied.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen communicates with the demons through his phone, giving them food, drink, commands, and instructions.
• Fine Ghost repeatedly speaks on behalf of the group, praises Qin Fen, and tries to enforce his authority over the other demons.
• The demons collectively compare Qin Fen favorably with Silver Beard, strengthening their shared loyalty to their new king.
• Qin Fen’s attempts to impose military discipline clash with the demons’ ignorance, but their willingness to obey shows that they are receptive to his leadership.

Chapter Summary: “A True Man Through and Through, Unmatched at Screwing People Over”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen wakes after a brief rain and decides to go into the city to buy inexpensive clothes for Fine Ghost and the other poorly dressed Little Demons.
• At the gate, he is visited by an elderly Japanese chef, Kato, accompanied by a young Chinese translator.
• Kato has come after hearing about Qin Fen’s exceptional knife skills and wants to exchange culinary techniques, particularly involving sashimi and fugu.
• Qin Fen immediately recognizes that Kato’s visit is not simply friendly. Kato hopes to gain fame by defeating Qin Fen and improving the reputation of Japanese cuisine at China’s expense.
• Qin Fen pretends not to be Qin Fen, then exploits the language barrier by speaking rudely while maintaining an impeccably polite expression and demeanor.
• The translator is forced to soften or distort Qin Fen’s insults, leaving Kato convinced that Qin Fen is welcoming and respectful.
• Qin Fen shakes Kato’s hand, smiles, and repeatedly tells him—without Kato understanding—to leave and “go play wherever he wants.”
• Qin Fen eventually walks away, leaving Kato confused and the translator trapped between honestly translating the insults and preserving the false impression of goodwill.
• When Qin Fen turns back and asks whether they want to know the truth, the translator becomes increasingly anxious, realizing Qin Fen is continuing to manipulate them.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates his shameless, mischievous, and highly calculating side. He refuses to be drawn into a challenge on someone else’s terms and uses deception, social etiquette, and the language barrier to control the encounter. His outward politeness contrasts sharply with his deliberately insulting words.
• Kato: Appears respectful and eager, but his underlying ambition is revealed. He wants both personal fame and greater recognition for Japanese cuisine, making his challenge politically and competitively motivated rather than purely professional.
• The Translator: Becomes the unwilling victim of Qin Fen’s scheme. He understands Qin Fen’s insults but cannot translate them honestly without causing offense, leaving him frustrated, embarrassed, and increasingly desperate.
• Fine Ghost and the Little Demons: Do not appear directly, but Qin Fen’s concern about their clothing motivates the chapter’s opening events.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen’s courteous smile, handshake, and respectful posture conceal his mocking and dismissive intentions.
• Cultural pride and rivalry: Kato’s challenge reflects competition between Chinese and Japanese culinary traditions, while Qin Fen views the visit as an attempt to exploit China’s reputation.
• Language as a weapon: The translation gap allows Qin Fen to insult Kato without consequence and gives him control over how the interaction is understood.
• Deception and social manipulation: Qin Fen uses etiquette not as a sign of sincerity, but as a shield that makes his behavior impossible to criticize.
• Reputation and provocation: Kato seeks fame by challenging Qin Fen, while Qin Fen refuses to grant him the dramatic confrontation he wants.

Important Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the translator: Their exchange drives most of the humor and conflict. Qin Fen deliberately says outrageous things, forcing the translator to struggle with how to convey them.
• Qin Fen and Kato: They perform a false display of mutual respect through bows, smiles, and a handshake, even though Qin Fen is mocking Kato and dismissing his challenge.
• Kato and the translator: Kato relies entirely on the translator and repeatedly misreads the situation, believing Qin Fen is treating him warmly.
• Qin Fen and the visitors as a group: Qin Fen dominates the encounter without accepting the proposed culinary contest, leaving both men confused and unable to respond effectively.