Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Little Demons Were Fierce, Great Sage Skewers Boomed”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Under Qin Fen’s direction, the little demons enthusiastically promote Great Sage Skewers through aggressive, creative advertising. They hand out flyers, attach advertisements to children, and even lure them with counterfeit milk and promises of drinks.
• As lunchtime approaches, both Flavor Master Restaurant and Great Sage Skewers begin filling with customers. Flavor Master attracts wealthier patrons through its established reputation and discounts, while Great Sage Skewers draws crowds through its unusual self-service format, low prices, and widespread advertisements.
• Black Mane and Fine Ghost exchange polite but hostile words across the street, clearly viewing each other as business rivals. Fine Ghost, now more perceptive because of Qin Fen’s guidance, responds tactfully while internally deciding to compete seriously.
• The demons are fascinated by the novel skewer system, in which customers choose their own ingredients and cook them in soup. The low-cost, high-volume business model confuses the wolf demon, who cannot understand how such inexpensive food can generate profit.
• A group led by Bear Head, once regular customers at Black Mane’s restaurant, chooses Great Sage Skewers instead. Black Mane is stunned that familiar patrons would abandon his established restaurant for the unfamiliar skewers.
• Black Mane attempts to impress Commander Crab, a powerful Water Tribe official, by implying that Great Sage Skewers is crude food meant only for laborers. His elitist remark offends nearby customers and causes further damage to his reputation.
• Commander Crab ultimately follows his child to Great Sage Skewers, attracted by the freedom to select food personally and by the promised drink. The chapter ends with Black Mane watching another important customer leave, frustrated by Qin Fen’s shamelessly effective advertising.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates strong marketing instincts and an ability to mobilize the little demons. His methods are unconventional and even embarrassing, but they create enormous public attention.
• Fine Ghost has become sharper and more politically tactful after Qin Fen’s guidance. Although he remains outwardly respectful toward Black Mane, he now recognizes the rivalry and is prepared to fight for the restaurant’s success.
• Black Mane grows increasingly anxious and irritated as customers abandon his respected restaurant. His pride and class-based assumptions prevent him from understanding why the new business is succeeding.
• The wolf demon begins questioning his old assumptions about restaurant management. He recognizes that Great Sage Skewers may be profitable because of its low prices, efficient labor model, and high customer turnover.
• Bear Head and Commander Crab reveal that status does not necessarily determine dining preferences. Their groups are willing to try something new despite Black Mane’s attempts to separate “refined” customers from laborers.
• The children, particularly the bear and crab brats, become surprisingly effective promoters of Great Sage Skewers. Their enthusiasm and blunt honesty make the advertising appear genuine and memorable.

Significant Themes

• Innovation versus tradition: Great Sage Skewers challenges established restaurants through self-service dining, cheap prices, and a simplified business model.
• Marketing and mass appeal: Qin Fen’s flyers, bribes, slogans, and child promoters show how aggressive advertising can overcome the reputation of an older establishment.
• Class prejudice: Black Mane assumes wealthy demons should prefer refined dishes and that laborers cannot contribute meaningful profits. His attitude alienates both groups.
• Adaptability and competition: Fine Ghost and the wolf demon begin to understand that success requires flexibility, while Black Mane remains trapped in traditional thinking.
• Consumer curiosity and choice: Customers are drawn to the novelty of selecting their own ingredients, suggesting that participation and freedom can be as attractive as food quality.
• High-volume, low-margin commerce: The chapter highlights Qin Fen’s practical business strategy—small profits per customer can accumulate through large crowds and reduced operating costs.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen’s little demons manipulate and recruit children by offering drinks and rewards, turning them into enthusiastic advertisers.
• Black Mane and Fine Ghost maintain polite language while openly testing each other’s strength as rival restaurant owners.
• Black Mane warmly welcomes Bear Head, only to be rejected when Bear Head chooses Great Sage Skewers.
• Black Mane tries to flatter Commander Crab and insult the rival restaurant, but Commander Crab’s child openly dismisses him and leads the family across the street.
• The customers’ reactions show that Black Mane’s condescending remarks have damaged his standing, while Fine Ghost’s restaurant gains popularity through openness, affordability, and novelty.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Mane is frustrated by the overwhelming flyer campaign advertising Fine Ghost’s Great Sage Skewers, especially because the promotion targets everyone, including children.
• Qin Fen observes the chaos but remains confident that Fine Ghost’s shop can handle ordinary troublemakers with the protection of his Samadhi True Fire.
• The crab leader visits the skewer shop with his child. Fine Ghost wins his goodwill by giving them Wangzai’er OO Star drinks and later instant noodles, prompting the crab leader to offer future support.
• Black Mane stops his subordinate, Erzi, from attacking Fine Ghost directly. Recognizing the crab leader’s status and Qin Fen’s backing, he orders his men to compete through advertising instead.
• Fine Ghost learns that Black Mane’s side is printing flyers. He contacts Qin Fen, who sees the conflict as part of his larger Grand Trade Strategy for expanding economic influence across the Earthly Immortal Realm.
• Qin Fen decides not to fight the Demon Tribe through direct conquest. Instead, he plans to establish trade networks that will later support a much larger Heavenly Court strategy.
• Fine Ghost changes tactics: rather than merely posting flyers, he sends Little Demons to distribute them manually and prepares a counteroffensive.
• Erzi and several wolf demons begin covering Fine Ghost’s flyers with their own advertisements. However, the tactic backfires because passersby cannot read the flyers and simply associate the area’s advertising with the increasingly famous Great Sage Skewers.
• Qin Fen watches the incident through a video feed and laughs at the wolves’ mistake, realizing that even attempts to suppress the advertisements are increasing the shop’s reputation.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains calm, strategic, and confident. He treats the advertising dispute as a minor part of a far-reaching economic plan rather than a personal feud. His confidence reflects his belief that influence and commerce will be more effective than brute force.
• Fine Ghost shows major growth in intelligence, organization, and social skill. He successfully builds alliances, manages promotions, anticipates Black Mane’s response, and uses indirect tactics rather than seeking a physical confrontation.
• Black Mane is revealed to be experienced and cautious. Although enraged by Fine Ghost’s success, he understands the danger of attacking while powerful figures are present and chooses competition through advertising instead.
• Erzi is impulsive and narrow-minded. He initially wants to start a fight and later tries to sabotage the flyers, but his lack of foresight causes his plan to benefit Fine Ghost instead.
• The crab leader becomes a potential supporter of Fine Ghost after recognizing the novelty and value of the shop’s products.
• Little Drillwind becomes an effective and loyal subordinate, helping monitor the opposition and carry out Fine Ghost’s plans.

3. Significant Themes

• Marketing and public perception: Even hostile advertising can strengthen a brand if it increases recognition. The failed attempt to cover the flyers only makes Great Sage Skewers more memorable.
• Commerce as power: Qin Fen’s broader strategy emphasizes economic influence over military conquest. Trade networks are presented as a foundation for future political and spiritual power.
• Adaptability and intelligence: Fine Ghost succeeds because he responds flexibly to changing circumstances, while Black Mane’s more conventional approach struggles to keep up.
• Social connections and reciprocity: Small gifts and considerate treatment help Fine Ghost gain the crab leader’s support, showing how hospitality can create political and commercial alliances.
• Cultural and educational differences: The joke that many demons cannot read highlights how assumptions about audiences can undermine a strategy. Fine Ghost’s advertising succeeds through reputation and repetition rather than written content alone.
• Humor through unintended consequences: Erzi believes he is suppressing the shop’s advertisements, but his actions spread the shop’s name even further.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Black Mane observe each other’s sides indirectly, with Black Mane growing wary of Qin Fen’s influence.
• Fine Ghost treats the crab leader and his child generously, creating a friendly relationship and securing possible future support.
• Black Mane reprimands Erzi for proposing a reckless attack and redirects him toward flyer distribution.
• Fine Ghost and Little Drillwind coordinate surveillance and promotional tactics.
• Erzi’s wolf demons clash with Fine Ghost’s Little Demons in an advertising battle rather than a physical one.
• Qin Fen monitors the conflict remotely and recognizes that Fine Ghost’s strategy has outmaneuvered the wolves’ efforts.

Chapter Summary: Demon Tribe Girls Like Dove Too

Key Plot Points and Events

• Second Son, the young wolf demon, discovers that written advertising is far less effective among the largely illiterate Demon Tribe than Qin Fen’s more direct marketing methods.
• While Second Son is putting up Great Sage Skewers posters, the crab commander catches him and orders him to tear down every poster in the city. Qin Fen’s shop avoids punishment because its representative, Little Drillwind, has switched from posting flyers to personally handing them out.
• Black Mane orders the wolf demons to imitate Great Sage Skewers by distributing flyers, hoping to win back customers.
• Qin Fen sends Fine Ghost a new shipment of counterfeit luxury goods, including fake Defu chocolate, to use as promotional rewards or payment. Fine Ghost is thrilled and prepares the next stage of Qin Fen’s plan.
• Black Mane’s aggressive opening campaign—drums, firecrackers, price cuts, and special offers—has cost him money without damaging Great Sage Skewers, whose business remains strong.
• Qin Fen escalates the advertising war by deploying attractive clam-spirit girls to distribute flyers. Their flirtatious calls of “Young master” draw crowds immediately, and customers discard the wolf demons’ flyers to pursue the girls and Great Sage Skewers.
• The wolf demons’ efforts collapse completely, while Black Mane receives another report that something has gone wrong.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown to be a calculating and confident businessman. He anticipates his rivals’ reactions, manipulates them into copying his tactics, and uses increasingly sophisticated marketing strategies to exhaust their resources.
• Second Son becomes the scapegoat for the advertising conflict. His initial anger turns into helpless frustration when the crab commander orders him to remove all the posters.
• Black Mane shifts from confidence to regret. He realizes too late that matching Qin Fen’s spending and tactics has only drained his own finances.
• Fine Ghost remains an enthusiastic and obedient subordinate. He is delighted by the counterfeit goods and eagerly carries out Qin Fen’s instructions.
• Little Drillwind demonstrates the importance of adapting strategy: by handing flyers directly to customers rather than posting them, he avoids punishment and makes the campaign more effective.
• The clam-spirit girls prove to be a powerful promotional force, using charm and personal attention to attract customers more effectively than ordinary flyers.

Significant Themes

• Marketing and psychological warfare: Qin Fen wins by controlling the pace of the competition and forcing Black Mane to react.
• Adaptability versus imitation: Great Sage Skewers changes tactics while the wolf demons merely copy them, leaving them consistently one step behind.
• Literacy and communication: Written advertisements are ineffective when the target audience cannot read, so Qin Fen relies on demonstrations, personal interaction, and appealing messengers.
• Resource management: Black Mane’s price cuts and costly promotions undermine his own business, emphasizing that high sales do not guarantee profit.
• Charm as a commercial tool: The chapter humorously presents beauty, flirtation, and social attention as more effective than conventional advertising.
• Counterfeit luxury and consumer desire: Even fake branded goods seem exotic and desirable to the sheltered Demon Tribe, allowing Qin Fen to exploit their unfamiliarity with the outside world.

Character Interactions

• The crab commander confronts Second Son, punishes him for the posters, and forces him to remove them across the city.
• Second Son and Little Drillwind function as contrasting representatives of the rival shops: Second Son follows outdated methods, while Little Drillwind uses a more effective personal approach.
• Qin Fen and Fine Ghost interact as strategist and subordinate, with Qin Fen supplying the plan and resources while Fine Ghost eagerly executes them.
• Black Mane and his wolf demons share a cycle of increasingly bad news, highlighting the boss’s growing panic and his underlings’ inability to counter Qin Fen.
• The clam-spirit girls interact directly with potential customers, overwhelming the wolf demons’ flyer campaign through flattering speech and attractive presentation.

Chapter Summary: “You Have Demon Tribe Girls, I Have Dove”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Mane learns that Qin Fen’s side is distributing flyers with the help of attractive Water Tribe clam spirits, whose presence draws crowds and causes Black Mane’s flyers to be discarded.
• Determined to compete, Black Mane orders his subordinates to hire their own female assistants and help Erzi distribute advertisements.
• The wolf demons find a group of carp spirits and initially believe they have caught up with Qin Fen’s strategy.
• The clam and carp spirit girls begin competing over which employer offers better compensation. The clam spirit gains the advantage by displaying Dove chocolate, a rare luxury in the Demon Realm.
• She claims the chocolate may come from the Heavenly Court and implies that Great Sage Skewers has a powerful hidden owner, possibly a Demon King.
• The carp spirits are impressed by the chocolate and the rumored status of the shop’s owner. They abandon Black Mane’s side and join the clam spirits in distributing Qin Fen’s flyers.
• Erzi is left humiliated and helpless, unable to retaliate because the carp spirits are Water Tribe locals protected by the unity and authority of the Water Tribe.
• A rumor begins spreading through Haitian City that Great Sage Skewers is backed by a Great Sage-level Demon King.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains amused and confident, recognizing that his cheap counterfeit chocolate has become an unexpectedly powerful marketing tool. He also realizes that rumors about his identity and influence are rapidly becoming exaggerated.
• Black Mane grows increasingly desperate and competitive. His attempts to imitate Qin Fen’s strategy fail because he cannot match the appeal of the girls or the value of the Dove chocolate.
• Erzi shifts from confidence to frustration and humiliation. He believes money can solve the problem, but his hired workers abandon him as soon as they see a better reward.
• Little Drillwind effectively supports Qin Fen’s side and enjoys watching the wolf demons lose their advantage.
• The clam spirit girls prove clever and competitive, using both their appearance and the chocolate perk to recruit more helpers.
• The carp spirit girls are shown to be practical and opportunistic. Their loyalty changes immediately when they discover the greater benefits offered by Qin Fen’s side.

Significant Themes

• Marketing and competition: The chapter humorously portrays a rivalry between neighboring businesses, with both sides escalating their advertising tactics.
• The power of perceived value: Dove chocolate is cheap by Qin Fen’s standards but appears extraordinarily rare and prestigious to the demons, making it more persuasive than money.
• Rumor and reputation: A simple claim about Heavenly Court candy quickly transforms into rumors that Great Sage Skewers is backed by a powerful Demon King.
• Cultural and social divisions: The Water Tribe’s local identity and solidarity give the clam and carp spirits protection and leverage over the outsider wolf demons.
• Absurdity and satire: Modern advertising practices, celebrity appeal, bribery, and workplace poaching are transplanted into a fantasy setting for comedic effect.

Character Interactions

• Black Mane gives orders to Erzi and the wolf demons, urging them to copy Qin Fen’s promotional strategy.
• The clam and carp spirit girls compare their wages and benefits, turning a business rivalry into a playful contest.
• The clam spirit uses Dove chocolate to impress and recruit the carp spirits.
• Erzi confronts the girls after they switch sides, but they bluntly remind him that, as Water Tribe members, they are not obligated to remain loyal to him.
• Little Drillwind mocks Erzi and welcomes the former carp spirit workers to Qin Fen’s side.
• The chapter ends with Erzi overwhelmed by humiliation while Qin Fen’s promotional campaign gains even more workers and prestige.

Chapter Summary: “Super Finisher! Qin Fen Strikes Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Mane’s advertising campaign begins to collapse when the carp girls he hired abandon him and start distributing flyers for Great Sage Skewers instead. The news leaves him furious and humiliated.
• Determined to outspend Qin Fen, Black Mane orders his men to recruit more advertisers at any price. When they demand triple pay, he accepts and announces that his restaurant’s dishes will be half price.
• The aggressive advertising campaign transforms Haitian City’s atmosphere. Plaster-style advertisements, flyers, and attractive promoters make Great Sage Skewers the talk of the city.
• As evening approaches, many Demon Tribe laborers begin looking for inexpensive food, creating the ideal opportunity for the restaurants to compete for customers.
• Fine Ghost proposes an extreme cost-cutting strategy: reusing leftover chili oil from lunch for the evening dishes. Qin Fen is appalled by the potential harm but hypocritically chooses not to interfere, since he originally introduced the questionable imitation product.
• Qin Fen activates his final “trump card” by sending Fine Ghost a mysterious package. It contains strange clothing resembling a torn fishing net, tiny pants, and fake rabbit ears.
• Fine Ghost initially cannot understand the purpose of the items, but after seeing the clam demons return, he suddenly realizes that Qin Fen has devised another brilliant promotional scheme.

Character Developments

• Black Mane becomes increasingly desperate and unstable. His confidence collapses as he realizes that money alone cannot defeat Qin Fen’s low-cost operation.
• Qin Fen demonstrates his talent for psychological and commercial warfare. He deliberately encourages Black Mane to keep spending, knowing the rival’s resources will eventually be exhausted.
• Qin Fen also reveals a more shameless and morally flexible side. Although he criticizes Fine Ghost’s plan to reuse chili oil, he refuses to stop it because he considers the Demon Tribe’s affairs outside his responsibility.
• Fine Ghost grows more devoted to Qin Fen, interpreting every mysterious move by his “king” as evidence of profound strategy. His admiration and willingness to follow Qin Fen deepen.
• The little demons are portrayed as overworked, exhausted subordinates caught between the competing restaurants and increasingly aggressive demands from their bosses.

Significant Themes

• Resourcefulness versus wealth: Black Mane relies on capital, while Qin Fen wins through creativity, cheap operating costs, publicity, and unconventional ideas.
• Advertising and mass attention: Modern marketing methods dramatically disrupt the traditional Demon Tribe marketplace and make Great Sage Skewers famous across Haitian City.
• Psychological warfare: Qin Fen’s goal is not merely to attract customers but to provoke Black Mane into overspending and destroying himself financially.
• Moral compromise: Both sides engage in questionable practices. Black Mane exploits workers, while Fine Ghost considers reusing contaminated oil; Qin Fen recognizes the danger but deliberately looks away.
• Hero worship and misunderstanding: Fine Ghost treats Qin Fen’s schemes as genius even when he does not understand them, emphasizing the gap between Qin Fen’s intentions and his followers’ interpretation.

Character Interactions

• Black Mane and his subordinate argue over the delayed announcement that the hired promoters have defected, highlighting Black Mane’s growing frustration.
• Black Mane challenges Fine Ghost indirectly by lowering prices and trying to crush Great Sage Skewers financially. Fine Ghost responds with confidence because he trusts Qin Fen’s backing.
• Fine Ghost and Little Drillwind discuss using leftover chili oil, revealing their ruthless willingness to prioritize profit and competition over safety.
• Qin Fen observes both sides from the sidelines, manipulating Black Mane while pretending not to notice Fine Ghost’s dangerous plan.
• Fine Ghost receives Qin Fen’s mysterious package and begins connecting the strange costume pieces with the returning clam demons, setting up the next stage of Qin Fen’s promotional attack.

Chapter Summary: “Eye Economy! Rabbit-Demon Greeters”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After eating, Qin Fen retreats to his room and monitors the restaurant competition through a video call. He is carefully planning beyond merely defeating Black Mane’s wolf-demon restaurant.
• At night, Black Mane’s strategy of paying triple wages to recruit customers begins to work. Several large groups of demons arrive at Flavor Master Restaurant, making him believe he can compete successfully.
• Bear Head and his laborers appear, but instead of entering Black Mane’s restaurant, they mock him and head to Great Sage Skewers. Chief Crab arrives soon after, still angry because Black Mane’s son had offended him, and also joins Fine Ghost’s restaurant.
• Black Mane orders Second Son to aggressively solicit customers from the street. The wolf demon’s shameless pestering succeeds in bringing some diners into Flavor Master Restaurant.
• Qin Fen then gives Fine Ghost permission to reveal his trump card: six clam-demon girls dressed as rabbit-girl greeters.
• Their unusual costumes—rabbit ears, revealing outfits, high heels, and fishnet stockings—shock the demon population, who have never encountered modern-style promotional imagery.
• The greeters’ synchronized “Welcome!” entrances create a huge sensation. Demons abandon Black Mane’s restaurant, rush into Great Sage Skewers, and form a long line outside. Even some customers already eating at Flavor Master begin considering leaving.
• Black Mane is driven nearly mad by the success of the tactic, realizing that he spent heavily on recruitment but was completely outmatched by Qin Fen’s marketing strategy.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates increasing strategic sophistication. He is no longer relying solely on food quality and is deliberately studying consumer psychology and long-term business tactics.
• Fine Ghost remains loyal and confident in Qin Fen’s plan. His anticipation of the hidden trump card shows that he trusts the King’s judgment and enjoys watching the strategy unfold.
• Black Mane becomes progressively more desperate. He begins the evening confident in his recruitment strategy, but humiliation, old grudges, and the loss of customers push him to abandon his dignity and use increasingly frantic methods.
• Second Son is shown as obedient but ineffective. He follows orders to harass passersby and attracts some customers, yet is distracted and rendered useless once the rabbit-girl greeters appear.
• Bear Head and Chief Crab reinforce their opposition to Black Mane. Bear Head openly mocks Black Mane’s elitist attitude toward laborers, while Chief Crab refuses to forgive the insult caused by Black Mane’s son.
• The clam-demon girls are transformed from ordinary staff into a powerful promotional spectacle. Their appearance becomes the central weapon in Great Sage Skewers’ commercial battle.

Significant Themes

• Marketing and consumer psychology: The chapter emphasizes that business success depends not only on product quality but also on presentation, novelty, and emotional stimulation.
• Modernity versus ignorance: Qin Fen applies modern advertising techniques in a demon society unfamiliar with them, giving him a major competitive advantage.
• The “eye economy”: Visual appeal and attention become commodities. The greeters attract customers before they even taste the food.
• Class and social prejudice: Black Mane’s dismissive treatment of laborers backfires when Bear Head and his group deliberately support the rival restaurant.
• Desperation versus strategy: Black Mane reacts impulsively and spends resources trying to force success, while Qin Fen calmly prepares a decisive, well-timed counterattack.
• Cultural disruption and novelty: The rabbit-girl costumes cause extraordinary reactions because they are completely outside the demons’ normal experience, turning a simple restaurant entrance into a public spectacle.

Important Character Interactions

• Black Mane and Bear Head: Black Mane tries to flatter and recruit Bear Head’s group, but Bear Head sarcastically rejects him because of Black Mane’s earlier condescending attitude.
• Black Mane and Chief Crab: Black Mane attempts to repair their relationship, but Chief Crab reminds him of his son’s offense and refuses to enter the restaurant.
• Fine Ghost and the rival customers: Fine Ghost welcomes the incoming groups and successfully receives the support that Black Mane had hoped to capture.
• Black Mane and Second Son: Black Mane orders Second Son to solicit customers, showing his willingness to rely on shameless tactics as the competition intensifies.
• Qin Fen and Fine Ghost: Through the video call and orders in Fine Ghost’s ear, Qin Fen directs the operation remotely, while Fine Ghost executes the final marketing move.
• The rabbit-demon greeters and the crowd: Their synchronized greeting captivates the entire street, immediately converting curiosity into customers and decisively shifting the restaurant battle.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Mane’s restaurant collapses under competition from Qin Fen’s Great Sage Skewers. Every strategy Black Mane copies—advertising, flyers, and hiring greeters—backfires because Qin Fen’s business tactics are more effective.
• Chef Qin’s latest promotion draws away the remainder of Black Mane’s customers, leaving Black Mane financially ruined and so frustrated that he faints.
• Qin Fen reflects on the Heavenly Court’s larger plans: compulsory education, population control, and establishing channels to the Earthly Immortal Realm. He hints that he has devised another “earth-shattering” scheme inspired by the Demon Tribe.
• Qin Fen is suddenly bombarded with messages and photographs from women who have bought black leather outfits after hearing about his supposed preference for them.
• Yi Bendao, Big Balloon, Bai Xiaojie, and several other women send him provocative selfies, each believing they are indulging Qin Fen’s “heavy” tastes.
• The climax comes when the Queen Mother also appears in a glossy leather outfit. Qin Fen video-calls her and enthusiastically praises her appearance, only for her eyelid to twitch in irritation.

Character Developments

• Black Mane is shown as financially reckless and incapable of matching Qin Fen’s creativity. His desperation to imitate Qin Fen’s success causes him to lose even more money and ultimately breaks his confidence.
• Qin Fen continues to demonstrate strategic brilliance and deviousness. His restaurant success is only a minor part of his broader plans for the Heavenly Court, and he remains amused by the chaos he creates.
• Qin Fen also reveals a shameless, voyeuristic side. Although he insists that his tastes are “wholesome,” he secretly enjoys receiving pictures of the women in leather outfits.
• The Queen Mother displays unexpected openness to new fashion. She finds the leather outfit more striking and powerful than a cheongsam, suggesting a playful willingness to experiment with her image.
• The women around Qin Fen willingly—or unknowingly—reinforce his false reputation by adopting the style they think he likes.

Significant Themes

• Competition and imitation: Black Mane copies Qin Fen’s methods but lacks the originality and timing needed to succeed, emphasizing that imitation cannot replace strategy.
• Manipulation and hidden schemes: Qin Fen’s public policies conceal deeper objectives, suggesting that his apparently reasonable reforms are parts of a much larger plan.
• Reputation and misunderstanding: Qin Fen’s casual comments have created a widespread belief that he has unusual tastes, and everyone’s attempts to please him only make the misunderstanding worse.
• Comedy through unintended consequences: Black Mane’s downfall and the leather-outfit craze both arise from people reacting to Qin Fen’s actions in exaggerated ways.
• Power and presentation: The leather outfits become symbols of confidence, authority, and allure, especially in the Queen Mother’s case.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen indirectly defeats Black Mane through superior business tactics, while Fine Ghost’s reports confirm that Great Sage Skewers has become overwhelmingly popular.
• Multiple women send Qin Fen photos and teasing messages, expecting his approval and inviting further interaction.
• Bai Xiaojie, despite being a doctor, joins the trend by dressing like an action-film heroine.
• The Queen Mother discusses the outfit’s unusual appeal with Qin Fen and compares it favorably to traditional clothing.
• When Qin Fen praises her appearance during the video call, her irritated reaction suggests that his enthusiasm may have crossed a line.

Chapter Summary: “Matchmaker Yue, Taibai, and White Horse: Three Bros”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Natural Daoist secretly appears at Queen Mother’s bedchamber on Kunlun Mountain, provoking her with his usual cryptic and irritating behavior. He hints that Matchmaker Yue’s current situation is part of a larger “fun” plan and suggests Queen Mother may benefit from it.
• Queen Mother realizes Natural Daoist is manipulating events but cannot force him to explain himself. He abruptly disappears—or rather, falls asleep—leaving her frustrated.
• Matchmaker Yue, having learned more about the population crisis, consults Taibai. The two decide to visit the West Sea Dragon Clan for assistance, while Yue deliberately keeps Natural Daoist’s involvement secret.
• At the West Sea Dragon Palace, they meet White Dragon Horse, the Third Prince of the West Sea Dragon Clan, instead of the Dragon King. After a long discussion, the three develop strong camaraderie but fail to find a concrete solution to the Water Tribe’s population problem.
• White Horse invites them to explore Haitian City and try a newly opened restaurant. Their visit also reflects White Horse’s broader plan to use the coastal city to create opportunities for the Water Tribe and relieve its population pressure.
• Meanwhile, Qin Fen moves into a fully furnished villa prepared by Song Shaoqing. He enjoys the comfort and privacy of owning his own home, relaxing beside the pool with Monkey Wine while monitoring events through his phone.
• When Qin Fen notices White Dragon Horse appearing on WeChat, he realizes that his plans are beginning to connect the right people.
• The three immortals visit Great Sage Skewers. Black Mane spots them and becomes suspicious because of their unusual appearances and powerful presence.
• Black Mane orders Erzi to report them to General Tiger Shark as supposed spies, framing them as dangerous outsiders or even a Demon King plotting against Haitian City.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen/Natural Daoist: Continues to act as a hidden manipulator who arranges encounters and events from the background. His shameless, playful personality contrasts with his apparent confidence that everything will unfold according to plan.
• Queen Mother: Although powerful and intimidating, she is unusually helpless against Natural Daoist’s unpredictable behavior. Her curiosity and irritation grow as she suspects he is orchestrating something significant.
• Matchmaker Yue: Shows caution and strategic thinking by withholding information about Natural Daoist. He prefers to keep a backup plan and is willing to shift responsibility onto Taibai if things go wrong.
• Taibai: Acts as a cooperative and sociable partner in the investigation. He is open-minded, polite, and eager to exchange ideas with White Horse.
• White Dragon Horse: Emerges as an intelligent and visionary leader. His attempt to use Haitian City to address the Water Tribe’s overcrowding demonstrates practical thinking and a willingness to seek change.
• Black Mane: Reveals himself as suspicious, calculating, and vindictive. Rather than confronting the strangers directly, he chooses to exploit local authorities to have them targeted.
• Erzi: Faithfully carries out Black Mane’s scheme and becomes enthusiastic about the opportunity to attack the newcomers.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and hidden agendas: Natural Daoist orchestrates events while refusing to explain his intentions, and Black Mane simultaneously begins his own smaller conspiracy.
• Cooperation and friendship: Matchmaker Yue, Taibai, and White Horse quickly develop a strong rapport despite their different backgrounds, suggesting that collaboration may eventually solve the population crisis.
• Tradition versus innovation: White Horse’s plan to address the Water Tribe’s problems through a modern coastal city represents a more progressive approach than simply relying on old methods.
• Misunderstanding and prejudice: The trio’s powerful aura and unfamiliar appearance cause others to fear them, allowing Black Mane to portray them as spies or threats.
• Modern life within a mythological world: Qin Fen’s villa, smartphone, WeChat, restaurants, and city life exist alongside immortals, dragons, demons, and Heavenly Court politics.
• Comedy through contrast: The serious supernatural figures are placed in mundane or absurd situations, such as discussing population policy over food or being manipulated through a smartphone-based social network.

Character Interactions

• Natural Daoist and Queen Mother exchange sarcastic, hostile banter, with Queen Mother demanding answers and Natural Daoist refusing to take her seriously.
• Matchmaker Yue and Taibai privately strategize about the crisis, though Yue remains wary of relying on Natural Daoist.
• Matchmaker Yue, Taibai, and White Horse bond during their overnight discussion, forming an unexpectedly compatible “three bros” alliance despite failing to produce an immediate solution.
• White Horse acts as host and guide, introducing the immortals to Haitian City and its food culture.
• Qin Fen observes the developing alliance remotely and recognizes White Horse’s appearance on WeChat as evidence that his arrangements are succeeding.
• Black Mane and Erzi work together to frame the three visitors, setting up the chapter’s next conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chef Qin secretly monitors a meeting between the Third Prince, Taibai Jinxing, and Matchmaker Yue at his newly established hotpot restaurant.
• Matchmaker Yue immediately recognizes the restaurant’s unusual features—skewers, all-you-can-eat hotpot, Yuan-Yang broth, and OO Star liquor—as signs of Natural Daoist’s involvement. He becomes increasingly paranoid, believing Qin has deliberately arranged another trap.
• Qin privately contacts Matchmaker Yue and warns him not to reveal Qin’s identity or involvement, claiming that “heavenly secrets must not be revealed.” This convinces Matchmaker Yue that Qin is planning something much larger and more dangerous than the current conflict.
• The Third Prince explains that his father, the Dragon King, is absent because he was summoned by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. This creates an awkward atmosphere because the Western Sea Dragon Clan’s association with the Buddhist School could be politically sensitive.
• The Third Prince reveals the Dragon King’s main problem: the Water Tribe’s growing population requires new settlements, but suitable coastal and island locations are controlled by powerful demons.
• One possible location belongs to the Flood Dragon Demon King, a Great Sage-level demon comparable to Monkey. Another suitable coastal region is controlled by Black Mountain Demon, who is connected to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
• Qin realizes that the appearance of Black Mountain Demon, together with the previously encountered Millennium Tree Demon, resembles the setting of A Chinese Ghost Story. He begins wondering whether Nie Xiaoqian might also exist.
• His suspicion is immediately confirmed when he receives a new contact request from someone named Nie Xiaoqian.

Character Developments

• Chef Qin/Natural Daoist: Continues operating covertly through the demon world while enjoying Matchmaker Yue’s mistaken belief that every unusual event is part of a grand Qin-planned conspiracy. He remains amused by the misunderstandings and highly interested in the political information he overhears.
• Matchmaker Yue: Becomes extremely anxious and paranoid after realizing he has entered Qin’s territory again. He decides to remain silent and observe rather than risk angering Qin or exposing his own plans.
• Taibai Jinxing: Remains calm and diplomatic, noticing Matchmaker Yue’s strange behavior but choosing to smooth over awkward moments. He also treats the Third Prince’s connection with Guanyin as a reasonable precedent.
• The Third Prince: Shows concern about his father’s absence and nervousness over revealing the Dragon King’s dealings with Ksitigarbha. He openly explains the Western Sea’s population crisis and the territorial obstacles facing the Dragon Clan.
• The Dragon King: Though absent, he is portrayed as burdened by the Water Tribe’s expansion and forced to seek outside help.
• Black Mountain Demon and Flood Dragon Demon King: Are established as major powers controlling land the Dragon Clan needs, creating an impending territorial conflict.
• Nie Xiaoqian: Appears for the first time through a contact request, suggesting that the chapter’s supernatural crossover elements will become central to the story.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and paranoia: Matchmaker Yue interprets Qin’s ordinary business activities as elaborate schemes, while Qin is mostly amused and confused by the assumptions.
• Hidden identities and secrecy: Qin must conceal his role, and Matchmaker Yue fears that even speaking openly could expose him to danger.
• Political and territorial conflict: The Dragon Clan’s population crisis is linked to the struggle over land controlled by powerful demons and the competing influence of the Heavenly Court and Buddhist School.
• Crossover of mythological worlds: The introduction of Black Mountain Demon and the reference to Granny and Nie Xiaoqian blend the chapter’s cultivation setting with elements of A Chinese Ghost Story.
• Food and commerce as social tools: Qin’s restaurant serves as a neutral meeting place where powerful figures can gather, exchange information, and unintentionally become involved in larger schemes.

Important Character Interactions

• The Third Prince welcomes Taibai and Matchmaker Yue to the restaurant and explains its all-you-can-eat hotpot concept.
• Taibai attempts to reassure the Third Prince about his father’s association with Buddhism, while Matchmaker Yue remains too frightened to respond.
• Qin secretly contacts Matchmaker Yue, reinforcing Yue’s belief that Qin is manipulating events from behind the scenes.
• The Third Prince discusses the Western Sea’s settlement crisis with Taibai while Qin secretly listens.
• Qin’s realization about Black Mountain Demon leads directly to the unexpected appearance of Nie Xiaoqian’s contact request, ending the chapter on a major cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Qin Dafa, Shut Up; the Heavenly Dao Shows Its Might Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen learns that Nie Xiaoqian has WeChat and is impressed by its ability to gather intelligence more effectively than modern intelligence agencies.
• Taibai explains the history and power of the Black Mountain Demon, a former innocent man who became a demon after suffering betrayal and overwhelming resentment. Now a powerful Earthly Immortal–realm Demon King, he strengthens himself by absorbing wandering yin souls during the Ghost Festival.
• The Western Sea Dragon Clan wants to find a new route for developing Haitian City, but Black Mountain lies in their way. Ksitigarbha has become involved, allegedly to deal with the demon, though the Third Prince suspects the Buddhist School has deeper motives.
• Qin Fen realizes that the conflict involves the Water Tribe, Black Mountain Demon, Heavenly Court, and Buddhist School. He looks forward to exploiting the complicated situation and “fishing in muddy waters.”
• Water Tribe soldiers led by General Tiger Shark storm Qin Fen’s skewer shop. They bully Little Drillwind and demand to see the shop’s owner, suspecting the newcomers of being connected to him and of plotting against Haitian City.
• Matchmaker Yue confronts Tiger Shark, sarcastically claiming to be “from the heavens.” Tiger Shark dismisses him and continues interrogating him.
• Qin Fen prepares to intervene when Matchmaker Yue becomes angry, but instead sends him a “shut up” emoji with a warning not to damage the shop.
• The emoji unexpectedly causes Matchmaker Yue great distress, hinting that it contains a terrifying Heavenly Dao power comparable to Qin Fen’s unknown Purple Firmament Divine Thunder.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen continues to behave like a clever opportunist. Rather than immediately stopping the conflict, he plans to use the growing tensions among the major factions to gain advantages.
• The Third Prince is shown to be thoughtful and politically farsighted. He wants to develop Haitian City peacefully and recognizes that his father and the Buddhist School may be pursuing a larger strategy.
• Taibai acts cautiously, preferring to avoid an open war between the Heavenly Court and the Demon Tribe. He also understands that allowing Buddhism to profit from the conflict would be undesirable.
• Matchmaker Yue remains both sharp-tongued and easily frightened by Qin Fen’s unpredictable powers. He recognizes that Qin Fen is powerful enough to scheme against major figures such as Ksitigarbha and Taiyi Perfected Person.
• Tiger Shark is arrogant and aggressive, emboldened by the Dragon King’s orders, intelligence he received, and bribes or benefits from others. He underestimates the people in the shop.
• Black Mountain Demon is presented as a tragic figure whose resentment transformed him into a powerful demon, though he is currently positioned as an obstacle and potential enemy.

Significant Themes

• Power hidden behind ordinary appearances: Qin Fen regards the shut-up emoji as a simple communication tool, while it may actually possess overwhelming Heavenly Dao power.
• Political maneuvering and factional conflict: The Water Tribe, Heavenly Court, Buddhist School, and Demon Tribe all have competing agendas surrounding Black Mountain and Haitian City.
• Misunderstanding and irony: Qin Fen is unaware of the true strength of his own abilities, while Matchmaker Yue understands their danger far better.
• Exploitation of chaos: Qin Fen welcomes the increasingly complicated conflict because disorder creates opportunities for him to profit.
• Tragedy and transformation: Black Mountain Demon’s history suggests how love, betrayal, resentment, and regret can drive an ordinary person toward evil.

Character Interactions

• Taibai and the Third Prince exchange information about Black Mountain Demon and Ksitigarbha’s possible plans.
• Qin Fen silently evaluates the political situation and admires the Third Prince’s strategic insight.
• Taibai and the Third Prince leave to obtain more food, while Matchmaker Yue remains behind and worries about Qin Fen’s schemes against Ksitigarbha.
• Tiger Shark’s soldiers intimidate Little Drillwind and demand the shop owner’s presence.
• Matchmaker Yue responds mockingly to Tiger Shark’s interrogation, but Qin Fen intervenes indirectly with the mysterious shut-up emoji, ending the immediate escalation while potentially unleashing a far greater power.

Chapter Summary: “Myriad Laws Imprisonment”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Matchmaker Yue prepares to subdue the demons threatening Qin Fen’s skewer shop, confident that ordinary cannon fodder poses no danger to an immortal.
• Before he can act, Qin Fen’s mysterious command takes effect. Matchmaker Yue becomes completely immobilized: his body, speech, immortal power, and even Primordial Spirit are frozen.
• Matchmaker Yue realizes that this is not a normal Immobilization Spell but Myriad Laws Imprisonment, a terrifying Saint-level technique that places its target beneath the laws of heaven and earth.
• In reality, the imprisonment is caused by the Heavenly Dao itself through Qin Fen’s system-like pop-up window. It also disrupts Karma around Haitian City, preventing outsiders from calculating or sensing what is happening.
• Tiger Shark mistakes Matchmaker Yue and his companions for spies from Black Mountain Demon and begins interrogating and attacking them.
• Black Mane, the owner of Flavor Inn, reinforces Tiger Shark’s suspicions, claiming that the skewer shop and its unusual goods must be connected to outside agents.
• Unable to move or defend himself, Matchmaker Yue is whipped by Tiger Shark. He silently begs Qin Fen to release him and promises not to scheme against him again.
• Little White Dragon, the Third Prince, and Taibai of Venus emerge from the back courtyard and are shocked to see a Heavenly Court immortal being beaten by Western Sea demons.

Character Developments

• Matchmaker Yue shifts from confident schemer to helpless victim. He realizes Qin Fen’s power is vastly beyond what he had imagined and regrets attempting to manipulate the situation.
• Qin Fen remains unaware of the full consequences of his command. He interprets Matchmaker Yue’s silence and lack of resistance as deliberate cooperation, completely misunderstanding his suffering.
• Tiger Shark is shown to be aggressive, suspicious, and arrogant. He assumes his enemies are weak spies and feels entitled to punish them.
• Black Mane acts opportunistically, using the situation to validate his suspicions and provoke Tiger Shark against the newcomers.
• Little White Dragon and Taibai are revealed to have been safely occupied in the back courtyard, unaware that Matchmaker Yue is being attacked.

Significant Themes

• The danger of overwhelming power: Qin Fen’s casual command produces a technique more powerful than most immortals can comprehend.
• Miscommunication and dramatic irony: Matchmaker Yue is desperately pleading for help internally, while Qin Fen interprets his silence as loyalty and restraint.
• Humiliation and reversal of status: A respected Heavenly Court immortal is reduced to helplessness before minor demons.
• Scheming and retaliation: Matchmaker Yue’s attempt to trick others backfires, leading Qin Fen to unintentionally—or at least indirectly—punish him.
• The unpredictability of the Heavenly Dao: The chapter emphasizes that Qin Fen’s connection to the Heavenly Dao operates beyond ordinary cultivation levels and conventional magical laws.

Character Interactions

• Matchmaker Yue internally blames Qin Fen, the Third Prince, and Taibai for placing him in danger, while Qin Fen mistakenly praises him for supposedly protecting Little White Dragon’s dignity.
• Tiger Shark interrogates Matchmaker Yue and accuses him of being a spy, but Matchmaker Yue cannot answer because of the imprisonment.
• Black Mane supports Tiger Shark’s accusations, portraying the skewer shop’s owners as suspicious agents.
• Tiger Shark attacks Matchmaker Yue with his whip, unaware that his victim is a powerful Heavenly Immortal.
• The arrival of Little White Dragon, Taibai, and the Third Prince ends the chapter on a cliffhanger as they witness the shocking assault.

Chapter Summary: “Matchmaker Yue Flies into a Rage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen and Taibai are stunned when the Third Prince, Little White Dragon, and General Tiger Shark realize that the diners they attacked are actually Heavenly Court officials—Matchmaker Yue and Taibai Venus.
• Tiger Shark panics after discovering he has beaten an important immortal. Little White Dragon is equally horrified because he had invited the two officials to the restaurant in hopes of building a good relationship with them.
• Matchmaker Yue, humiliated and furious after being beaten by Tiger Shark, sarcastically emphasizes how “insignificant” and “unknown” he supposedly is. His words indirectly embarrass the Third Prince, since the Third Prince had brought him to the restaurant.
• Tiger Shark kneels and begs for forgiveness. Matchmaker Yue’s threatening gaze terrifies both Tiger Shark and Black Mane, the wolf demon who had originally helped provoke the incident.
• Tiger Shark shifts the blame onto Black Mane, accusing him of being a spy from Black Mountain. The Third Prince orders Black Mane arrested, the restaurant sealed, and the city gates locked so no wolf demon can escape.
• Although the Third Prince wants to resolve the matter peacefully, he is anxious because Matchmaker Yue has not formally accepted his apology. Taibai tries to mediate, insisting that the incident was merely a misunderstanding and not the Third Prince’s fault.
• Qin Fen privately praises Matchmaker Yue for supposedly acting with dignity and restraint. This shameless misunderstanding pushes Matchmaker Yue over the edge, and he genuinely faints from rage.
• Taibai and the Third Prince assume the fainting is a dramatic act or the result of stress. Qin Fen likewise believes Matchmaker Yue is pretending to give everyone a graceful way out, while Matchmaker Yue internally fumes that he really was driven unconscious.

Character Developments

• Matchmaker Yue: His humiliation turns into intense but suppressed anger. Unable to explain that Qin Fen’s schemes caused his predicament, he redirects his rage toward Tiger Shark. His eventual fainting highlights both his emotional frustration and the absurdity of the situation.
• Taibai Venus: Continues playing the role of mediator and “good person,” protecting the Third Prince and trying to smooth over the conflict. However, he is increasingly confused by Matchmaker Yue’s strange behavior.
• Little White Dragon: Shifts from confidence to panic and helplessness. He realizes that his attempt to entertain Heavenly Court officials has instead created a diplomatic disaster and reluctantly lets Matchmaker Yue decide Tiger Shark’s fate.
• General Tiger Shark: Goes from aggressive enforcer to terrified subordinate. To save himself, he immediately betrays Black Mane and places all blame on him.
• Black Mane: Becomes the scapegoat of the entire incident. His fear and regret show that he never expected his accusations to result in the involvement of Heavenly Court immortals.
• Qin Fen: Remains amused and manipulative, observing the chaos while misunderstanding Matchmaker Yue’s genuine emotional collapse. His internal comments reveal how casually he treats the consequences of his schemes.

Significant Themes

• Absurd misunderstandings: The entire crisis grows from mistaken identities and the Water Tribe’s failure to recognize the guests.
• Power and social hierarchy: Tiger Shark’s behavior changes instantly once he learns Matchmaker Yue and Taibai are Heavenly Court officials, showing how authority determines respect and fear.
• Blame and self-preservation: Tiger Shark abandons Black Mane to protect himself, while the Third Prince attempts to distance himself from responsibility.
• Humiliation and suppressed anger: Matchmaker Yue cannot openly reveal the true cause of his predicament, so his anger builds until it overwhelms him.
• Comic irony: Everyone misreads everyone else. The characters interpret Matchmaker Yue’s real collapse as an act, while Qin Fen believes his genuine fainting is deliberate performance.

Character Interactions

• Matchmaker Yue and Tiger Shark: Tiger Shark begs for mercy, but Matchmaker Yue’s cold response and threatening stare make clear that he has not forgiven him.
• Matchmaker Yue and Little White Dragon: The Third Prince feels obligated to compensate for the insult and asks Matchmaker Yue how the matter should be handled, while Matchmaker Yue’s sarcasm makes him feel even more guilty.
• Tiger Shark and Black Mane: Tiger Shark immediately turns on Black Mane, accusing him of being the true instigator and ensuring that Black Mane bears the consequences.
• Taibai and Matchmaker Yue: Taibai tries to defend and support Matchmaker Yue, but he fails to understand why Yue is behaving so strangely.
• Qin Fen and Matchmaker Yue: Qin Fen’s private praise is deeply irritating because it completely misunderstands Yue’s suffering. Qin Fen thinks Yue is pretending to faint, while Yue is genuinely overwhelmed by rage.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Taibai, Matchmaker Yue, and Little White Dragon return to the Crystal Palace after the conflict in Haitian City. Great Sage Skewers becomes quiet, while the street disturbance caused by the wolf demon is brought under control.
• Tiger Shark captures the troublemaker and reassures Fine Ghost that he will protect him in the future, especially because powerful figures such as the Third Prince are known to visit Great Sage Skewers. Fine Ghost responds by giving Tiger Shark valuable gifts.
• With the city restored to peace, Qin Fen ends his video call and notices that a new contact has appeared on WeChat: Nie Xiaoqian.
• Qin Fen becomes emotionally invested in Xiaoqian’s situation, remembering her tragic story from A Chinese Ghost Story. He worries that she remains imprisoned by the Millennium Tree Demon and Black Mountain Demon, while Ksitigarbha may once again be involved in the aftermath.
• Before Qin Fen can message Xiaoqian, Female Hooligan calls to announce that she and Song Shaoqing are coming to celebrate his new home by eating his food.
• Qin Fen discovers that his kitchen has no ingredients, so he contacts Fine Ghost and obtains supplies from the Earthly Immortal Realm. Fine Ghost is once again amazed by his “king’s” mysterious abilities.
• While preparing a meal, Qin Fen opens his chat with Nie Xiaoqian and sends her lyrics from the theme song of A Chinese Ghost Story.
• Xiaoqian, imprisoned in a bleak, heavily guarded room on Black Mountain, hears the mysterious message and is startled that someone can contact her without Black Mountain Demon’s permission.
• Qin Fen introduces himself as someone from “Lotus Pavilion,” then humorously explains that Lotus Pavilion is simply a restaurant and that he is a chef trying to support his family.
• Xiaoqian finds his claims absurd and refuses to believe him. Qin Fen responds by listing the dishes he is preparing, including boiled cabbage, cold shredded chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, and winter melon soup.
• His ridiculous conversation unexpectedly lifts Xiaoqian’s spirits, briefly allowing her to forget her imprisonment and personal sorrow.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen shows his compassion and nostalgia by becoming deeply concerned about Nie Xiaoqian’s fate. Despite recognizing her as a tragic fictional figure, he treats her as a real person in need of help. His casual, humorous personality also allows him to comfort her without forcing a serious discussion.
• Nie Xiaoqian is introduced as lonely, sorrowful, and imprisoned under Black Mountain Demon’s control. Qin Fen’s strange messages initially confuse and alarm her, but his absurdity gradually eases her sadness.
• Fine Ghost continues to act prudently and maintain his relationship with Tiger Shark, while remaining awed by Qin Fen’s seemingly miraculous powers.
• Tiger Shark becomes more assertive and protective, using his connections to powerful figures to secure his position and offer Fine Ghost protection.
• Female Hooligan and Song Shaoqing serve as Qin Fen’s immediate social obligations, interrupting his attempt to communicate privately with Xiaoqian.

3. Significant Themes

• Unexpected connection across realms: WeChat continues to bridge the Mortal Realm, Earthly Immortal Realm, and demonic territories, overturning the traditional boundaries between worlds.
• Humor as emotional healing: Qin Fen’s ridiculous cooking-related conversation breaks through Xiaoqian’s despair and gives her a moment of relief.
• Compassion for the oppressed: Qin Fen sympathizes with Xiaoqian’s suffering and wants to understand or improve her situation, even though he initially lacks a clear plan.
• The contrast between grand supernatural identities and ordinary life: Qin Fen may be perceived as an unfathomable immortal or master, but he thinks and behaves like an ordinary chef preparing lunch.
• Power, protection, and alliances: Tiger Shark’s support from powerful patrons and Fine Ghost’s gift-giving illustrate how survival in the supernatural world depends on influence and connections.

4. Character Interactions

• Tiger Shark and Fine Ghost: Tiger Shark promises protection, while Fine Ghost offers him gifts in return, strengthening their alliance.
• Qin Fen and Female Hooligan: She casually imposes on Qin Fen for a celebratory meal, highlighting their familiar and somewhat troublesome relationship.
• Qin Fen and Fine Ghost: Qin Fen requests ingredients, and Fine Ghost reacts with awe at his mysterious methods.
• Qin Fen and Nie Xiaoqian: Their first conversation is awkward and surreal. Qin Fen uses copied song lyrics, exaggerated claims, and descriptions of food to contact her, while Xiaoqian responds with confusion, skepticism, and eventual amusement. His presence temporarily relieves her loneliness and grief.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen chats with Nie Xiaoqian while casually preparing a meal. He asks about her past, specifically what happened after Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen rescued her from the Black Mountain Demon.
• Nie Xiaoqian explains that she was sent to the Underworld for reincarnation, but the process had become severely overcrowded after the Immortal-Mortal Separation. She had to take a number and wait indefinitely.
• During a Ghost Festival, she left the Underworld to visit Orchid Temple and learn about Ning Caichen. The Millennium Tree Demon had since recovered, captured her again, and returned her to the Black Mountain Demon.
• The Black Mountain Demon has imprisoned Nie Xiaoqian, delaying her fate because of the conflict with the Western Sea Aquatic Tribe. Nie fears she may never escape.
• Qin Fen, moved by her situation, promises to rescue her, despite knowing that he lacks the power to confront the Black Mountain Demon directly. He intends to manipulate stronger figures—especially Ksitigarbha—and create an opportunity through political and supernatural complications.
• Qin Fen continues cooking while considering whom he can use as a “pawn.”
• Sun Yating arrives at the villa with Song Jianjun, his assistant Zhang Jiang, and Old Tang, a famous gourmet who has paid heavily for the chance to taste Qin Fen’s cooking. Sun Yating is planning a Sanya branch of her restaurant, with the defeated European chef Rogers as its chef.
• The guests expect to witness Qin Fen’s legendary culinary skill, but instead find him casually chatting on his phone while cooking in an extremely rough and careless manner. His treatment of the shrimp and other ingredients horrifies Old Tang.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Shows compassion and a growing willingness to involve himself in Nie Xiaoqian’s predicament. Although he boasts confidently about rescuing her, he privately admits that he cannot fight the Black Mountain Demon and will need to rely on clever manipulation and powerful allies. His cooking remains deliberately casual, reinforcing his irreverent personality.
• Nie Xiaoqian: Reveals the tragic circumstances that followed her original story. Her long wait for reincarnation, renewed capture, and fear of the Black Mountain Demon emphasize her vulnerability. Qin Fen’s promise gives her a small amount of hope.
• Sun Yating: Continues developing her restaurant business and uses Old Tang’s interest in Qin Fen’s cooking to secure a major investment for her Sanya branch.
• Old Tang: Begins the chapter eager and respectful toward Qin Fen’s culinary reputation, but quickly becomes disappointed and nearly enraged by Qin Fen’s careless methods.
• Rogers: Remains fascinated by Qin Fen despite his defeat and is willing to accept a lower-paying position simply to stay near him and continue learning.

Significant Themes

• Compassion and responsibility: Qin Fen becomes involved in Nie Xiaoqian’s suffering simply because he learns about it, even though helping her may be dangerous.
• Power versus cleverness: Qin Fen cannot defeat the Black Mountain Demon physically, so he plans to rely on alliances, manipulation, and the chaos created by competing powers.
• Appearance versus reality: Nie Xiaoqian interprets Qin Fen’s confident words as proof that he is an unimaginably powerful expert, while the reader knows he is largely bluffing.
• Bureaucratic absurdity: The Underworld’s reincarnation system has become an overcrowded queue, turning a mythological process into a frustrating administrative problem.
• Irreverent humor: Qin Fen’s casual speech, bizarre confidence, and careless cooking contrast sharply with the solemn supernatural crisis surrounding Nie Xiaoqian and the high expectations of his guests.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Nie Xiaoqian move from casual conversation into a serious exchange about her tragic history. His informal reassurance clashes with her fear and reverence for him.
• Qin Fen’s promise to rescue Nie Xiaoqian strengthens her hope, even though he privately knows he cannot do it alone.
• Qin Fen mentally connects Nie Xiaoqian’s situation to Ksitigarbha, the Heavenly Court, the Black Mountain Demon, and the Western Sea Aquatic Tribe, imagining the crisis as a multi-party political conflict.
• Sun Yating’s group expects a masterclass from Qin Fen, but their admiration turns into shock as they watch him cook without care or refinement.
• Old Tang’s expectations collapse as Qin Fen fails to trim, devein, or properly stir-fry the shrimp, ending the chapter with the gourmet silently condemning him as an outrageously careless chef.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen prepares a meal for Old Tang, Song Jianjun, Sun Yating, and Zhang Jiang using seemingly crude, unrefined cooking methods.
• Old Tang is distressed because Qin Fen disregards the careful culinary techniques he expected, while Song Jianjun is more accepting of Qin Fen’s fast, practical style.
• Qin Fen repeatedly checks his phone and mutters to himself while cooking, trying to decide whom to recruit or manipulate against the Old Demon. He considers figures such as the Queen Mother, Food God, Guanyin, Ksitigarbha, and members of the West Sea Dragon Clan, but rejects most of them as unsuitable.
• While distracted, Qin Fen accidentally lets a kitchen knife fall. Without even turning his head, he catches it by the handle through instinctive reflexes, shocking everyone present.
• The incident reveals that Qin Fen has seamlessly integrated Dual-Mindedness, Fine Manipulation, and Dynamic Vision into his natural instincts. Even while mentally distracted, part of his mind continues cooking with terrifying precision.
• Remembering Fa Hai, a newly promoted Arhat from Golden Mountain Temple, Qin Fen decides that Fa Hai may be an appropriate opponent for the Old Demon.
• Qin Fen finishes four dishes and a soup and invites everyone to eat.
• The meal tastes dramatically better than the food he prepared for Song Jianjun previously. The diners are astonished by the quality despite the careless-looking preparation.
• Old Tang begins to wonder whether Qin Fen’s unconventional methods represent a “return to simplicity.” Qin Fen privately dismisses this idea: the real reason the food is so delicious is that the ingredients come from the Earthly Immortal Realm and were supplied by the Western Sea Aquatic Tribe.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates extraordinary multitasking, reflexes, and combat-like precision. His casual, distracted behavior hides an advanced mastery of cooking and movement. He also continues scheming to find someone capable of opposing the Old Demon.
• Old Tang: Becomes increasingly conflicted. His refined culinary standards are offended by Qin Fen’s methods, but the delicious food forces him to reconsider his assumptions.
• Song Jianjun: Remains practical and skeptical of Qin Fen’s unprofessional behavior, but appreciates his speed and efficiency as a former soldier. He is the first to openly question why Qin Fen’s food is now much better.
• Sun Yating: Is relatively tolerant of Qin Fen’s style and recognizes that he works with genuine focus. She is surprised when the meal proves superior to his previous cooking.
• Zhang Jiang: Observes Qin Fen from the perspective of a highly trained soldier and recognizes that every one of Qin Fen’s movements is precise and purposeful. He is especially impressed by Qin Fen’s instantaneous knife-catching reflex.

3. Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen looks distracted and careless, yet his actions reveal exceptional control and mastery.
• The value of results over tradition: The chapter questions whether refined methods matter if the final product is excellent.
• Hidden power and instinct: Qin Fen’s abilities have become so deeply integrated that he can perform dangerous, precise actions unconsciously.
• Comedic contrast: The serious diners’ fear and frustration contrast with Qin Fen’s absurdly casual behavior and private schemes.
• The importance of ingredients: The meal’s quality is ultimately attributed less to Qin Fen’s technique than to the extraordinary ingredients from the Earthly Immortal Realm.

4. Character Interactions

• Old Tang silently criticizes Qin Fen’s cooking while waiting to judge the final dishes.
• Song Jianjun and Zhang Jiang both criticize Qin Fen’s habit of checking his phone while cooking, though Zhang Jiang admires his precision.
• The falling knife alarms everyone, but Qin Fen’s effortless catch leaves Zhang Jiang unable to help and the others shaken.
• Qin Fen casually sends the group out of the kitchen after frightening them, maintaining his ridiculous lack of awareness.
• During the meal, Song Jianjun confronts Qin Fen about seemingly having “slacked off” in the past, while Sun Yating and Zhang Jiang confirm that the new dishes are unusually delicious.
• Old Tang’s opinion shifts from suspicion to amazement, though Qin Fen’s private explanation reveals that the supernatural ingredients—not culinary refinement—are responsible.

Chapter Summary: “Conning Fa Hai”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After lunch, Song Jianjun, Old Tang, and Female Hooligan linger at Qin Fen’s home, disrupting his peaceful afternoon. Qin Fen reluctantly makes tea while the two older men play chess and Female Hooligan relaxes by the pool.
• Qin Fen checks Fa Hai’s location on his phone while casually dealing with a woman who messages him. Although she appears to be a wealthy, attractive returnee, Qin Fen responds indifferently and rudely, eventually realizing she is nearby and likely interested because of the villa district.
• Qin Fen contacts Fa Hai by sending him a crying emoji. Fa Hai, traveling through the wilderness with three young monks, hears the emoji’s sorrowful cries and investigates.
• Because the emoji depicts only a giant bald head, Fa Hai and his disciples mistake it for a Flying-Head Demon. Fa Hai announces his identity and prepares to attack.
• Qin Fen confirms that the figure is Fa Hai and decides to entertain himself by provoking him. He allows the misunderstanding to continue because he hopes to manipulate Fa Hai into becoming a useful weapon.
• Fa Hai’s disciples praise their master’s reputation as a demon slayer, reinforcing his pride and obsession with his mission. Qin Fen then causes the crying emoji to sing the famous line: “Fa Hai, you don’t understand love. Leifeng Pagoda will fall down!”

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains detached, sarcastic, and increasingly confident. He is unimpressed by the attractive woman’s advances and prefers manipulating Fa Hai for amusement and strategic gain. His willingness to exploit Fa Hai shows both his mischievousness and his practical interest in turning powerful figures against one another.
• Fa Hai: Continues to define himself through demon-slaying and righteous judgment. He immediately assumes the strange crying figure is evil and takes pride in his reputation. His vanity is encouraged by his disciples’ praise.
• Fa Hai’s three disciples: Their values have been reshaped by Fa Hai’s teachings. They eagerly seek opportunities to gain merit by killing demons and unquestioningly accept their master’s judgment, though their observations about the “demon” are comically naïve.
• The unnamed woman: She appears confident and attractive but becomes frustrated by Qin Fen’s dismissive replies. Her attempt to invite him out fails because he is distracted and uninterested.
• Zhang Jiang: Remains curious about Qin Fen’s unusual behavior and hopes to understand what makes him so strange, though Qin Fen’s attention is focused elsewhere.

Significant Themes

• Deception and misinterpretation: Qin Fen exploits the limitations of the emoji to make Fa Hai mistake a digital image for a supernatural creature.
• Pride and manipulation: Fa Hai’s self-image as a great demon slayer makes him easy to provoke, especially when his disciples flatter him.
• Comedy through cultural and technological collision: Modern messaging technology creates an absurd encounter with a legendary Buddhist demon hunter, whose supernatural perspective cannot account for emojis.
• Boredom and entertainment: Qin Fen treats the confrontation as a way to relieve his boredom, showing how casually he approaches situations that Fa Hai considers deadly serious.
• Appearance versus reality: The emoji’s bald head is enough to convince Fa Hai that it is a demon, emphasizing the danger of judging solely by appearances.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen interacts dismissively with the attractive woman, refusing to play along with her attempt to make plans.
• Qin Fen deliberately baits Fa Hai by sending a crying emoji and allowing him to believe it is a demon.
• Fa Hai and his disciples reinforce one another’s confidence, with the disciples praising their master and Fa Hai enjoying their admiration.
• Qin Fen’s final song references Fa Hai’s inability to understand love, directly mocking his rigid identity and setting up the next stage of the deception.

Chapter Summary: “Fa Hai Goes All Out, Demon, Get Into the Bowl!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen posts a mocking song about Fa Hai, “Fa Hai, You Don’t Understand Love—Leifeng Pagoda Will Fall,” delighting in the chance to provoke the monk.
• The three young monks become confused by the song and ask whether Fa Hai truly understands love. Fa Hai angrily justifies his demon-slaying as an expression of “great love.”
• Qin Fen continues taunting Fa Hai through the crying emoji, using Buddhist quotations to suggest that Fa Hai’s rigid attachment and anger make his cultivation meaningless.
• Enraged, Fa Hai unleashes his signature technique, Mighty Heavenly Dragon, sending a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon toward the emoji.
• The attack passes harmlessly through the emoji, which instantly reappears. Fa Hai and his disciples are stunned because his strongest spell has accomplished nothing.
• Fa Hai then summons his ultimate treasure, the Golden Alms Bowl, personally bestowed upon him by the Buddha. He attempts to capture the emoji with its golden light, confidently commanding it to “Receive!”
• The emoji’s immense Heaven-Earth Profound-Yellow Merit Aura overwhelms the bowl’s light and repels it completely. The monks are left shocked, while Fa Hai is nearly driven to despair.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen reveals himself as a playful but highly calculating provocateur. He deliberately exploits Fa Hai’s stubbornness, using songs, internet quotations, and the emoji’s invulnerability to undermine the monk psychologically.
• Fa Hai shifts from righteous confidence to confusion and humiliation. His faith in his techniques and Buddha-given treasure is shaken when neither can affect the emoji.
• The three young monks repeatedly question their understanding of Buddhism and their master’s teachings. Seeing Fa Hai’s attacks fail causes their beliefs and values to become increasingly unstable.
• Qin Fen’s knowledge of online culture and Buddhist quotations gives him an unexpected advantage over the traditional monks, allowing him to defeat them through mockery as much as through power.

Significant Themes

• Rigid dogma versus genuine understanding: Qin Fen argues that attachment, anger, and delusion make religious practice ineffective, turning Fa Hai’s own teachings against him.
• Technology and modern knowledge versus tradition: The emoji’s nature as a digital creation makes traditional magical attacks useless, while Qin Fen’s familiarity with WeChat and internet culture allows him to manipulate the situation.
• The power of merit and righteousness: The emoji is composed of overwhelming merit and positive energy, making it immune to ordinary Dharma techniques and even resistant to Fa Hai’s sacred treasure.
• Humor and subversion: The chapter comically reverses the traditional demon-slaying narrative. Instead of being trapped by Fa Hai’s bowl, the “demon” effortlessly defeats the monk’s signature abilities.
• Crisis of faith: The monks interpret each failed attack as confirmation that Qin Fen’s philosophical claims may be correct, causing their worldview to collapse.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen intentionally provokes Fa Hai, while Zhang Jiang reacts nervously to Qin Fen’s unsettling enthusiasm.
• The young monks repeatedly question Fa Hai, unintentionally embarrassing him and reinforcing their doubts.
• Fa Hai responds to Qin Fen’s taunts with increasingly powerful attacks, but each failure makes him look less authoritative.
• Qin Fen uses the emoji as a proxy to mock and defeat Fa Hai, turning the confrontation into a battle of psychology, ideology, and supernatural power rather than a straightforward fight.

Summary

Plot points and events

• Qin Fen uses a crying-face emoji as his avatar, causing Fa Hai and his three disciples to mistake him for a strange demon or supernatural entity composed entirely of Merit.
• Fa Hai repeatedly tests Qin Fen with the Golden Alms Bowl, including a blood-sealed technique, but the bowl’s Buddhist power is completely ineffective. Qin Fen’s Merit body even reflects or repels the bowl’s golden light.
• Realizing he cannot defeat Qin Fen, Fa Hai questions him. Qin Fen answers in deliberately cryptic, Buddhist-sounding riddles, frustrating Fa Hai while maintaining the illusion that he is an enlightened being.
• Qin Fen then claims to know Fa Hai’s hidden history: his reincarnation as an Arhat, his Buddha-nature, his conflict with White Snake, and the resentment that once prevented him from attaining enlightenment.
• Fa Hai becomes convinced that Qin Fen is a powerful Buddha or Buddhist expert who has come to test him. Qin Fen continues the deception, urging him to examine whether his heart is truly free of attachment.
• Qin Fen offers a vague teaching about humans, demons, and the importance of the heart. Fa Hai interprets it as meaning that even a benevolent demon must be destroyed if it harms the mortal world.
• Pleased with Fa Hai’s answer, Qin Fen secretly gives him a tiny reward through the red and white packets. The Heavenly Dao reacts immediately: golden light descends, and Merit is bestowed upon Fa Hai.
• The supernatural response convinces Fa Hai and his disciples that Qin Fen truly guided him. Fa Hai gratefully bows to the unseen “Buddha,” completely unaware that Qin Fen has been improvising.

Character development

• Qin Fen demonstrates quick thinking and a talent for deception. Though he knows little about Buddhism, he successfully imitates Buddhist speech and exploits Fa Hai’s expectations. He shifts from confusion and amusement to deliberately manipulating Fa Hai into accepting him as an enlightened authority.
• Fa Hai moves from suspicion and hostility to bewilderment, reverence, and sincere belief. His failed attempts to subdue Qin Fen force him to reconsider his assumptions about demons, Merit, and his own spiritual shortcomings.
• The three young monks become increasingly confused as their master’s teachings and judgments collapse before their eyes. They begin to suspect that Fa Hai’s understanding of righteousness and Buddhism is incomplete.
• Fa Hai’s spiritual state appears to improve, at least temporarily, as he confronts his attachment to White Snake and reaffirms his commitment to protecting the mortal realm. However, this “enlightenment” is largely prompted by Qin Fen’s accidental manipulation.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Qin Fen looks like an absurd crying emoji but is mistaken for an incomprehensible Buddhist entity. Fa Hai’s interpretations are based more on expectation than truth.
• The power of belief: Fa Hai’s confidence in Qin Fen transforms random statements into profound teachings. The Heavenly Dao’s response further validates a misunderstanding.
• Merit and morality: The chapter explores whether Merit can possess consciousness and whether beings should be judged by their species or by the goodness of their hearts and actions.
• Attachment and enlightenment: Fa Hai’s lingering resentment toward White Snake is presented as the obstacle preventing him from fully attaining Buddhist fruition.
• Accidental consequences: Qin Fen’s deception unexpectedly produces a genuine spiritual breakthrough—or at least a meaningful change—in Fa Hai, showing how foolishness and wisdom can overlap.

Character interactions

• Qin Fen and Fa Hai engage in a battle of words after Qin Fen proves immune to Buddhist magic. Qin Fen’s evasive answers mirror Buddhist koans and leave Fa Hai unable to distinguish wisdom from nonsense.
• Qin Fen invokes Fa Hai’s past with White Snake to establish credibility, while Fa Hai responds with increasing humility and eventually kneels for instruction.
• The disciples silently judge and question their master, noticing that the supposed “Buddha’s test” contradicts Fa Hai’s earlier behavior and teachings.
• Qin Fen’s hidden reward triggers the Heavenly Dao’s manifestation of Merit, causing Fa Hai and the disciples to interpret a coincidental system reaction as divine confirmation of Qin Fen’s identity.

Chapter Summary: “Fa Hai Heads West, While Chef Qin Toys with the Old Demon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fa Hai’s sudden enlightenment produces a manifestation of golden merit light, drawing recognition from the Heavenly Dao and confirming his breakthrough.
• Qin Fen, posing as the Buddha, tells Fa Hai that his task is complete but then gives him a new mission: travel west to investigate the Black Mountain Demon, a powerful being who can traverse Yin and Yang and absorb wandering souls.
• Qin claims that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has already been sent to deal with the situation and instructs Fa Hai to subdue the demon, promising him “immeasurable Merit.”
• Enthralled by the prospect of earning merit, Fa Hai accepts the command and decides to travel to Black Mountain ahead of Ksitigarbha.
• Fa Hai sends his three young disciples to safety at a nearby temple rather than allowing them to accompany him. He then rides a cloud westward toward Black Mountain.
• Once Fa Hai departs, Qin Fen checks WeChat and finds that the Black Mountain Demon has appeared among his contacts.
• The chapter shifts to the Black Mountain Demon, who is celebrating victories against the Western Sea Aquatic Tribe. The demon has been fighting them over territorial claims and recently defeated several aquatic warriors, including a sperm whale and an implied killer whale.
• During the celebration, Qin Fen contacts the Black Mountain Demon and warns that Buddhist reinforcements have arrived.
• The demon hears Qin’s voice, but the surrounding demons cannot. When he demands that the speaker identify himself, all the Little Demons stand up in confusion, creating a ridiculous misunderstanding.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen/Chef Qin: Demonstrates strategic manipulation by exploiting Fa Hai’s devotion to Buddhism and desire for merit. Though he impersonates the Buddha, he remains focused on rescuing Nie Xiaoqian. His treatment of Fa Hai’s disciples also reveals that he has a moral side and will not casually endanger innocents.
• Fa Hai: Experiences enlightenment and becomes even more devoted to Qin’s supposed Buddhist authority. His enthusiasm for earning merit motivates him to accept the dangerous mission against the Black Mountain Demon. He also shows responsibility by protecting his disciples and preparing the way for Ksitigarbha.
• The Three Young Monks: Show concern for their master and willingness to help, but ultimately obey his order to leave. Their obedience reflects their respect for Fa Hai and their limited cultivation.
• Black Mountain Demon: Is portrayed as powerful, arrogant, territorial, and self-indulgent. He enjoys a comfortable life as a reclusive “homebody,” but becomes aggressive when the Western Sea Aquatic Tribe threatens his territory. His confidence is undercut by Qin Fen’s mysterious interference.
• The Little Demons: Are loyal and eager to please their king, but their confusion during the voice exchange makes them appear comically foolish.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation through belief and authority: Qin Fen’s impersonation works because Fa Hai interprets heavenly recognition and Qin’s supposed identity as proof of divine authority.
• Merit and motivation: Fa Hai’s enlightenment and promise of immeasurable merit show how spiritual ideals can be used to inspire action.
• Justice versus self-interest: Qin Fen’s ultimate goal is personal—saving Nie Xiaoqian—but he frames it as a righteous mission that also benefits the wider world.
• Responsibility and protection: Fa Hai refuses to expose his inexperienced disciples to danger, while Qin Fen’s reluctance to deceive them highlights his emerging sense of righteousness.
• Comedy amid supernatural conflict: Grand themes of enlightenment, demons, and heavenly authority are repeatedly contrasted with absurd misunderstandings and Qin Fen’s casual, irreverent behavior.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Fa Hai interact through a one-sided power dynamic: Qin presents himself as the Buddha, while Fa Hai responds with complete faith and obedience.
• Fa Hai speaks compassionately but firmly with his three disciples, dismissing their offer to help and ordering them to seek shelter.
• Qin Fen observes this exchange and recognizes Fa Hai’s kindness and integrity.
• Qin Fen’s contact with the Black Mountain Demon creates comic tension: Qin attempts to warn and provoke him, but because only the demon can hear the message, the Little Demons mistakenly stand up when their king demands to know who spoke.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black Mountain Demon becomes suspicious after an unknown voice claims that a Buddhist expert is coming to reinforce the opposing side.
• He interrogates his subordinate demons, making them repeat the statement one by one. None of their voices match, proving that someone nearby—or someone communicating remotely—is manipulating him.
• Black Mountain Demon uses a powerful detection technique resembling the Buddhist School’s Heavenly Eye, but he still cannot find the speaker. Qin Fen remains hidden and watches the situation through the chat window.
• Qin Fen continues provoking him through long-distance Primordial Spirit Transmission, pretending to be a Buddhist expert. When he quotes Ksitigarbha’s famous vow—“If I don’t enter Hell, who will?”—Black Mountain Demon believes Ksitigarbha himself is coming.
• Qin Fen impersonates Ksitigarbha, accusing Black Mountain Demon of evil deeds, disrupting reincarnation, harming karmic virtue, and attacking the Western Sea.
• Black Mountain Demon recognizes that Ksitigarbha is likely planning to eliminate him and has little chance of winning. Qin Fen ends the exchange after successfully frightening and destabilizing him.
• The demons panic upon hearing that Ksitigarbha may arrive. Black Mountain Demon decides not to wait for the confrontation. Blaming the Dragon King for seeking outside help, he orders his forces to attack and rob one of the Dragon King’s major deep-sea strongholds.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Demonstrates his talent for manipulation, improvisation, and mischief. He exploits the demons’ limited knowledge and Ksitigarbha’s reputation to create chaos without revealing his identity or location. He views the situation pragmatically, expecting to profit from the conflict.
• Black Mountain Demon: Initially confident and domineering, he becomes increasingly confused, alarmed, and defensive. His inability to detect Qin Fen exposes his limitations, while his fear of Ksitigarbha reveals that he knows he is vulnerable to a stronger Buddhist power.
• Ksitigarbha: Though he never directly appears, his reputation and long-term political ambitions become clear. He has been deliberately encouraging disorder in the Underworld so that he can later appear as a savior and bring the Six Paths of Reincarnation under Buddhist control.
• The Dragon King: Does not appear directly but becomes an unintended victim of Qin Fen’s scheme. His request for reinforcements provokes Black Mountain Demon into retaliating against his forces.

Significant Themes

• Deception and misinformation: Qin Fen wins influence by creating a false impression rather than fighting directly.
• Power and reputation: Ksitigarbha’s name alone is enough to frighten Black Mountain Demon and destabilize the demons.
• Political manipulation: Ksitigarbha’s supposed rescue plan is actually part of a larger strategy to exploit Underworld chaos and expand Buddhist authority.
• Ignorance versus institutional knowledge: Qin Fen mocks the demons’ lack of systematic training, contrasting them with the organized and well-supported immortals of the Heavenly Court.
• Chaos creating opportunity: Qin Fen repeatedly benefits from conflicts he helps intensify, while other factions suffer the consequences.

Character Interactions

• Black Mountain Demon questions his subordinates, but their literal obedience and honesty only frustrate him.
• Qin Fen secretly manipulates Black Mountain Demon through remote communication, provoking him while remaining undetectable.
• Qin Fen’s impersonation of Ksitigarbha causes Black Mountain Demon to shift from arrogance to fear and resignation.
• The demons look to Black Mountain Demon for guidance, prompting him to redirect their fear into aggression against the Dragon King’s forces.
• Qin Fen indirectly pits Black Mountain Demon, Ksitigarbha, and the Dragon King against one another for his own advantage.