Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Moon Palace Before Mid-Autumn Festival

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen enjoys a meal with fellow food enthusiast Sun Yujie. They quickly finish the food while enthusiastically discussing regional dishes and unusual snacks.
• Sun Yating messages Qin Fen angrily because he has failed to return to the restaurant during the busy lunch period. She complains that she is hungry and specifically demands barbecue and a drink.
• Qin Fen asks the restaurant owner for grilled sausages and soy milk, then also orders spicy crab to ensure Sun Yating gets enough to eat.
• Sun Yujie leaves for work and invites Qin Fen to contact her whenever he wants company. Qin Fen agrees, recognizing the possibility of a closer friendship or relationship.
• While waiting for the food, Qin Fen notices a message from Moon Rabbit lamenting that passionate people are always tormented by the heartless. He speculates humorously about whether she might be suffering from romantic feelings for Chang’e.
• Qin Fen decides to contact Moon Rabbit, partly to comfort her and partly because of her expertise in pharmacology and medicinal-herb cultivation—knowledge that could help him develop medicinal cuisine.
• Instead of offering direct emotional advice, Qin Fen sends her a poetic line about longing and sorrow. Moon Rabbit mistakes the words for someone physically speaking nearby and threatens to beat the intruder with her hammer.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown as sociable, food-loving, and increasingly comfortable interacting with women. He is attentive to Sun Yating’s needs, though he disguises his concern with teasing and impatience. His interest in Moon Rabbit is both practical and personal: he wants her scientific knowledge, but he is also genuinely curious about her emotional troubles.
• Sun Yating becomes more dependent on Qin Fen’s cooking, especially his side dishes. Her angry messages reveal her impatience, appetite, and growing familiarity with him.
• Sun Yujie displays thoughtfulness by encouraging Qin Fen to bring food to his “coworker.” Her invitation to contact her suggests she is open to developing a closer relationship with him.
• Moon Rabbit is introduced as a potentially lovesick, emotionally troubled figure. She is also established as a highly valuable expert in medicine and herbs. Her fierce reaction to Qin Fen’s poetic message highlights her direct, suspicious, and temperamental personality.

3. Significant Themes

• Food as a means of connection: Meals and cooking bring people together, strengthen relationships, and reveal affection.
• Romantic confusion and matchmaking: The chapter humorously explores misunderstandings about love, longing, and emotional suffering among immortals.
• Knowledge and self-improvement: Qin Fen realizes that his culinary abilities are insufficient for medicinal cooking without pharmacological knowledge and herb cultivation skills.
• Practical motives mixed with personal curiosity: Qin Fen presents his outreach to Moon Rabbit as helping her emotionally, but admits that he is also motivated by the useful expertise she possesses.
• Modern communication and ancient figures: WeChat messages, emojis, and workplace complaints are contrasted with immortals, legends, and classical poetry, creating much of the chapter’s comedy.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating: Their text exchange is playful and quarrelsome. Sun Yating demands barbecue and a drink, while Qin Fen complains about her appetite but ultimately orders extra food for her.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie: They bond over food and conversation. Sun Yujie’s invitation to meet again suggests mutual interest and companionship, while Qin Fen responds positively.
• Qin Fen and Moon Rabbit: Qin Fen attempts to start a conversation using an elegant romantic quotation. Moon Rabbit, already upset over love, interprets it as someone secretly speaking near her and reacts aggressively, setting up a comic misunderstanding.

Chapter Summary: “Attack of the Moon Rabbit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen contacts Moon Rabbit inside the desolate Moon Palace through mysterious voice transmissions.
• Moon Rabbit, armed with her pestle, searches suspiciously for the hidden intruder. Qin Fen realizes she must be confronting someone connected to her personal secret.
• Using the poetic line, “Falling flowers yearn to follow the flowing stream, but the flowing stream has no heart for the falling flowers,” Qin Fen probes her emotions.
• He correctly deduces that Moon Rabbit is secretly in love with Wu Gang. When he asks whether she could let go of Wu Gang even in death, she panics and begs him for mercy, confirming his suspicion.
• Qin Fen considers the legends surrounding Moon Rabbit, Wu Gang, and Chang’e, as well as the difficulty of changing Wu Gang’s fate. Wu Gang may be punished by the Jade Emperor, devoted to Daoist cultivation, or connected to Chang’e through another version of the legend.
• Qin Fen initially hesitates because helping Moon Rabbit would require significant effort with uncertain rewards. He is interrupted while buying food from a spicy crab vendor and decides that, since he has already taken on the Qixi Festival matter, he will handle Moon Rabbit’s problem as well.
• He offers to fulfill Moon Rabbit’s “heart’s desire,” giving her hope despite the seemingly impossible obstacle of Wu Gang’s endless punishment and the immortal osmanthus tree.
• Qin Fen ends with a playful declaration that he “wears the red scarf” and encourages the “little rabbit” to fight on.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates sharp deduction, psychological manipulation, and a pragmatic, profit-oriented mindset. He identifies Moon Rabbit’s hidden love by exploiting her emotional vulnerability, though he ultimately chooses to help her.
• Moon Rabbit shifts from aggressive confidence to fear, submission, and emotional desperation once Qin Fen exposes her secret. Her long-standing unrequited love becomes clear, and hope makes her willing to trust Qin Fen without questioning whether he can truly succeed.
• Wu Gang does not appear directly, but his background and punishment establish him as the central obstacle to Moon Rabbit’s desire.
• Chang’e remains an indirect but important presence because of her relationship with Moon Rabbit and her possible connection to Wu Gang.

Significant Themes

• Unrequited love and longing: Moon Rabbit’s years of silent affection have left her emotionally trapped.
• Psychological warfare: Qin Fen explicitly treats emotional disruption as the highest form of strategy, breaking Moon Rabbit’s defenses by attacking the source of her anxiety.
• Hope versus reality: Moon Rabbit accepts Qin Fen’s offer because hope overwhelms rational judgment, even though her wish appears nearly impossible.
• Pragmatism and self-interest: Qin Fen weighs the cost and benefit of helping others, showing that his generosity is mixed with calculation.
• Myth, legend, and reinterpretation: The chapter references conflicting versions of the stories of Moon Rabbit and Wu Gang, emphasizing the uncertainty and flexibility of mythological identities.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Moon Rabbit communicate remotely, creating a tense exchange in which he remains hidden while she tries to locate him.
• Qin Fen uses indirect poetry and pointed questions to force Moon Rabbit to reveal her feelings for Wu Gang.
• Moon Rabbit’s fear of Qin Fen’s supposed power causes her to abandon her earlier defiance and plead for mercy.
• Their relationship shifts when Qin Fen stops tormenting her and offers genuine—though theatrically presented—assistance, transforming the encounter from interrogation into a possible alliance.

Chapter Summary: “Is There a Chef Qin Here?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Moon Rabbit becomes confused by the mysterious immortal’s cryptic words about a “little rabbit,” a “fight,” and a “red scarf.” She waits for her wish to come true but sees no immediate result.
• Qin Fen, meanwhile, deliberately leaves Moon Rabbit waiting. He compares his strategy to Jiang Taigong’s fishing, believing that patience and anticipation will produce a greater reward.
• Qin identifies the Qixi Festival as the more urgent opportunity, while his Mid-Autumn Festival plan is already underway.
• When Qin returns to Lotus Pavilion, he is shocked by its enormous popularity. The restaurant is packed at lunchtime, with a long line extending outside.
• Qin discovers that Sun Yating is being interviewed by reporters about her former chef, Zhang Ye, who is preparing to compete against a famous French chef in a nationally televised culinary contest.
• Sun Yating gives Zhang Ye a cutting but restrained evaluation, saying only that his cooking skills were acceptable.
• Asked about the upcoming international cooking competition, Sun Yating avoids personal involvement and redirects the question toward promoting Chinese culinary culture.
• The reporters then ask about Lotus Pavilion’s mysterious master chef, whom Zhang Ye reportedly praised as the country’s greatest knife master.
• Sun Yating firmly denies that such a chef is connected to her restaurant and dismisses the interviewers before retreating to her office.
• The reporter then asks Qin Fen, who is standing nearby with a food-delivery bag, whether Chef Qin works there. Qin jokingly claims to be a delivery man, concealing his identity.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen is shown as calculating, patient, and confident. He prefers to manipulate circumstances indirectly, carefully building hope and anticipation before acting. His confidence in his culinary abilities is absolute, though he recognizes that he must continue adapting traditional knowledge to modern cuisine.
• Moon Rabbit remains naïve and bewildered by Qin’s mysterious behavior. Her frustration grows as she waits for the promised result without understanding the process behind it.
• Sun Yating demonstrates her sharp, intimidating personality. She remains blunt and dismissive but is also composed and socially capable, skillfully turning potentially controversial questions into patriotic statements.
• Zhang Ye becomes more prominent indirectly through news of his upcoming competition. His reputation and ambition suggest that he is attempting to establish himself after leaving Lotus Pavilion.
• The reporter is portrayed as increasingly frustrated and helpless when Sun Yating refuses to provide the sensational answers she wants.

Significant Themes

• Patience and strategic planning: Qin believes success requires creating anticipation and allowing others to act first rather than rushing.
• Concealed identity: Qin hides his status as Lotus Pavilion’s exceptional chef, while Sun Yating actively protects his anonymity.
• Confidence versus publicity: Qin and Sun Yating appear uninterested in fame, contrasting with the media’s desire to spotlight famous chefs and dramatic competitions.
• Chinese culinary pride: The upcoming contest introduces a theme of cultural exchange and national pride, with Sun Yating expressing hope that Chinese cuisine will be represented successfully.
• Business success and recognition: Lotus Pavilion’s overwhelming popularity confirms Qin’s culinary impact, even though the public does not yet know who is responsible.

Character Interactions

• Moon Rabbit waits helplessly for Qin’s promised outcome, while Qin remains unaware—or unconcerned—that she expects a response.
• Qin observes Sun Yating’s interview and privately admires her ruthless yet controlled answers, recognizing similarities between their personalities.
• Sun Yating dismisses the reporters’ attempts to expose or promote her hidden chef, protecting Qin by denying his connection to the restaurant.
• Qin reciprocates her discretion by pretending to be a delivery worker when the reporter asks directly about Chef Qin.

Chapter Summary

• Qin Fen’s disguise and Sun Yating’s protection: Qin Fen delivers takeout to Lotus Pavilion while pretending to be an ordinary deliveryman. A female reporter investigating the restaurant and its staff mistakes him for an employee, but is disappointed when she learns the truth. Sun Yating has already instructed the restaurant employees not to reveal anything about Qin Fen, preventing the reporter from gathering information.
• The growing culinary controversy: The upcoming cooking battle between Zhang Ye, his master, and a French chef has become a major media event. What began as a private culinary competition is amplified by hotel groups, Celestial Empire TV’s planned live broadcast, and widespread media coverage. Zhang Ye’s past defeat by Qin Fen is mentioned during interviews, bringing Qin Fen’s name into Magic City’s culinary circles.
• Zhang Ye’s development: After recovering from his humiliation, Zhang Ye has worked hard to improve his cooking. His skills have advanced considerably, and his master has taught him several special dishes. Zhang Ye now understands that Qin Fen’s abilities are on an entirely different level, especially after witnessing his flawless, multitasked tofu carving. He has abandoned any thought of challenging Qin Fen again and focuses instead on the coming battle against the French chef.
• Qin Fen avoids fame: Although Qin Fen realizes the reporter may be interested in his connection to Zhang Ye, he wants no involvement in the growing controversy. He prefers to remain unnoticed and views himself as a spectator rather than a participant. His attempt to hide as a deliveryman reflects his dislike of publicity and trouble.
• Playful interaction with Sun Yating: Qin Fen brings Sun Yating an excessive amount of food, claiming he was worried she would be hungry. Their conversation becomes flirtatious and teasing, with Qin Fen making suggestive comments about nutrition and Sun Yating confidently playing along. Despite her intimidating personality, she clearly enjoys his attention and their relaxed companionship.
• Sun Yating’s concern and protection: Sun Yating warns Qin Fen to be careful, revealing that she understands his preference for avoiding trouble and has already warned the restaurant staff to protect his identity. Their exchange shows growing familiarity and mutual trust.
• Comic defeat: Qin Fen is shocked when Sun Yating devours most of a grilled sausage in one bite. Embarrassed and overwhelmed by her boldness, he retreats while she laughs at him, boasting that he is still too inexperienced to challenge her. Qin Fen leaves vowing to defeat this “demoness” someday, reinforcing their humorous, flirtatious rivalry.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes Qin Fen’s humility and desire for anonymity, the widening gap between ordinary and true mastery, the pressures of fame, and the contrast between public culinary competition and private personal relationships. It also develops the playful tension and affection between Qin Fen and Sun Yating.

Chapter Summary: I Actually Played Music

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen retreats from Sun Yating’s office after losing their verbal exchange and heads to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
• Meanwhile, the Moon Rabbit and Matchmaker Yue continue waiting anxiously for Qin Fen’s solution to their respective problems, believing he is working on a complicated plan.
• Matchmaker Yue successfully resolves the academy issue with Taibai Venus but begins worrying again about Bai Suzhen and the Queen Mother, suspecting that Qin Fen’s schemes may have encountered trouble.
• Qin Fen changes into his formal executive-chef uniform, taking pride in how much more impressive it looks than his former security-guard clothing.
• The media crew remains outside Lotus Pavilion, hoping to expose or interview him about the upcoming Celestial Empire–France Culinary King Championship.
• Qin Fen blocks the reporters from entering the kitchen by hanging an “Unauthorized personnel keep out” sign.
• At dinner time, Sun Yating advises him to leave the restaurant for a few days until the reporters give up. Qin Fen attempts to sneak out during the busy dinner rush.
• In the lobby, however, he is intercepted by the reporters and a foreign man from a steakhouse who recognizes him.
• When directly asked about being Qin Fen and his culinary skills, Qin Fen denies everything, claiming that he is not a chef and that he “plays music.”
• The foreigner, who genuinely believes Qin Fen is a musical genius, supports this claim, leaving the reporter frustrated and bewildered.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen continues to rely on deception and improvisation to protect his hidden identity as an exceptionally skilled chef. He remains shamelessly confident, evasive, and willing to exploit misunderstandings.
• His position at Lotus Pavilion has clearly elevated his status. Employees now treat him with caution and respect rather than casual familiarity, demonstrating how power changes workplace relationships.
• Sun Yating shows consideration for Qin Fen by arranging for him to take time off and avoid the persistent media.
• Matchmaker Yue shifts from relief after solving one problem to renewed anxiety about Bai Suzhen and the Queen Mother, revealing his tendency to suspect that Qin Fen’s plans contain multiple hidden layers.
• The female reporter becomes increasingly irritated by Qin Fen’s evasiveness. Her determination remains strong, but her repeated failures leave her physically and emotionally exasperated.
• The foreign teacher remains convinced that Qin Fen is a musical prodigy, unintentionally helping Qin Fen maintain his cover.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and mistaken identity: Qin Fen repeatedly denies his true profession, while others interpret his abilities according to their own assumptions.
• Status and workplace hierarchy: Employees’ behavior toward Qin Fen changes once he becomes the executive head chef, emphasizing how authority affects social interactions.
• Persistence versus evasiveness: The reporters refuse to leave, while Qin Fen continually invents new excuses and escape attempts.
• Comedy through misunderstanding: Qin Fen’s claim that he “plays music,” combined with the foreigner’s sincere praise, creates an absurd contrast with the obvious evidence that Qin Fen is a chef.
• Hidden plans and uncertainty: The Moon Rabbit and Matchmaker Yue continue imagining that Qin Fen is engaged in a grand, complicated strategy, even though he is mainly occupied with cooking and avoiding reporters.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yating’s earlier verbal clash establishes her dominance over him, though she later acts helpfully by advising him to leave.
• Qin Fen’s interaction with the kitchen staff highlights the distance created by his elevated position.
• He deliberately excludes the reporters from the kitchen, frustrating the young journalist who wants to force an interview.
• The reporter confronts Qin Fen in the lobby, but he denies being both Qin Fen and a chef.
• Qin Fen uses the foreigner as a supposed witness, claiming the man can confirm that he is a musician. The foreigner sincerely praises Qin Fen’s musical ability, unintentionally strengthening Qin Fen’s ridiculous lie and leaving the reporter speechless.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• A sharp-eyed girl in the mortal world encounters a brown-haired foreigner who recognizes Qin Fen. She realizes Qin Fen’s identity as a chef may conceal additional talents, since the foreigner suggests he is also a master musician. Before she can investigate further, Qin Fen escapes into a crowded pedestrian street and goes out to eat rather than cook for himself.
• Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court is thrown into confusion over the socks Qin Fen arranged to have made. Bai Suzhen recognizes their value as luxurious, comfortable, and beautifully crafted clothing, but wisely distributes only three pairs among the Seven Fairies and secretly reserves one for Mount Li Old Mother.
• Mount Li Old Mother initially mistakes the socks for a magical treasure, even comparing their shape to Maitreya Buddha’s Acquired Bag. After realizing they are merely foot coverings, she secretly tries them on and becomes impressed by their comfort and appearance.
• Eager to show off the unusual gift, Mount Li Old Mother invites Queen Mother and the Seven Fairies for tea. Queen Mother sees the socks and immediately becomes suspicious of their origin.
• Matchmaker Yue is summoned before Queen Mother. Terrified by the appearance of the Plain-Colored Cloud Realm Banner, he realizes that his attempt to pass the socks to Queen Mother has been exposed.
• Under pressure, Matchmaker Yue admits that he asked Bai Suzhen and Little Seventh to deliver the gift. Queen Mother then deduces that Weaver Girl made the socks, connecting them to an old grievance.
• Matchmaker Yue mentally blames the “Natural Daoist” for setting him up, realizing that the gift has dragged him into an even deeper disaster. The chapter ends with Queen Mother preparing to punish or interrogate him.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains elusive and opportunistic, avoiding unwanted attention from the media girl and choosing convenience over responsibility by going out to eat instead of cooking.
• Bai Suzhen demonstrates intelligence and caution. She appreciates the socks but distributes them strategically, keeping one pair in reserve and using Mount Li Old Mother as a safer intermediary.
• Mount Li Old Mother is shown as dignified yet playful and curious. Her misunderstanding of the socks provides comic relief, while her desire to show them off reveals a familiar, social side of the immortals.
• Queen Mother displays immense authority and perceptiveness. Although her divination cannot identify the true source of the gift, she quickly connects the craftsmanship to Weaver Girl and recognizes that a hidden expert is involved.
• Matchmaker Yue becomes the chapter’s comic victim. His scheming and lack of caution leave him trapped between Qin Fen’s arrangements, Weaver Girl’s involvement, and Queen Mother’s anger.
• Little Seventh understands the danger immediately and silently urges Matchmaker Yue to give a safer explanation, but he panics and reveals too much.

Significant Themes

• Scheming and unintended consequences: A seemingly harmless gift creates a chain of suspicion and danger because of the complicated people connected to it.
• The contrast between mortals and immortals: Qin Fen casually treats the socks as ordinary consumer goods, while the immortals view them as mysterious artifacts or rare treasures.
• Appearance versus function: The socks have no magical powers, yet their quality, beauty, and comfort make them highly valuable in the Heavenly Court.
• Social vanity and curiosity: Even powerful immortals enjoy showing off fashionable or unusual possessions, emphasizing that their personalities remain human despite their supernatural status.
• The danger of careless allies: Matchmaker Yue’s predicament reflects the saying that one should fear foolish or treacherous friends more than powerful enemies.

Character Interactions

• The mortal media girl tries to understand Qin Fen’s surprising identity, but he avoids speaking with her.
• Bai Suzhen gives socks to the Seven Fairies and Mount Li Old Mother while carefully preserving her own interests.
• Mount Li Old Mother and Bai Suzhen share a humorous master-disciple exchange when the former mistakes the socks for a magical treasure.
• Mount Li Old Mother shows the socks to Queen Mother and the Seven Fairies, unintentionally exposing Matchmaker Yue’s scheme.
• Queen Mother interrogates Matchmaker Yue, while Little Seventh silently signals that he should admit the truth.
• Matchmaker Yue realizes that the mysterious Daoist behind the gift has effectively sacrificed him, leaving him terrified of Queen Mother’s impending punishment.

Chapter Summary: “Queen Mother and the Mysterious Light Technique”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Queen Mother interrogates Matchmaker Yue about how he managed to contact the Weaver Girl despite her isolation using the Plain-Colored Cloud Realm Banner and other powerful treasures.
• Her interrogation is motivated by two concerns:
  • Protecting the Weaver Girl from anyone with ulterior motives.
  • Understanding the sudden appearance of Heavenly Dao, which has made the major powers of the Three Realms extremely cautious.
• Matchmaker Yue panics because he cannot reveal Qin Fen’s identity or explain how Qin Fen bypassed Queen Mother’s restrictions. He silently begs Qin Fen for help.
• Meanwhile, Qin Fen leaves after arranging Little Bean’s living situation, feeds the mountain king some Monkey Wine and dog food, and returns home without concern for Matchmaker Yue’s predicament.
• Qin Fen later discovers a flood of messages from Matchmaker Yue, Little Seventh, Mount Li Old Mother, and Queen Mother. He realizes that Queen Mother inferred the Weaver Girl had made the gift and wants to know who arranged the meeting.
• Qin Fen sends Matchmaker Yue a voice message advising him to blame the matter on Mount Li Old Mother, as the arrangement had already been prepared through her connections.
• With Qin Fen’s guidance, Matchmaker Yue tells Queen Mother that Mount Li Old Mother was responsible and that he merely followed her instructions. He also mentions his role in arranging Bai Suzhen’s destined relationship.
• Queen Mother accepts the explanation because Mount Li Old Mother is her respected Daoist peer and is powerful enough to have bypassed the restrictions. She dismisses Matchmaker Yue and orders him to return to his duties.
• Shortly afterward, Qin Fen receives a mysterious mental message. A video activates at the cost of one hundred Merit, revealing the beginning of a mysterious “Light Technique.”

Character Developments

• Queen Mother is shown as calm, authoritative, perceptive, and highly protective of the Weaver Girl. Her severe measures are not purely suspicious; they are also intended to shield her daughter from danger amid growing tensions surrounding Heavenly Dao.
• Matchmaker Yue becomes increasingly terrified under Queen Mother’s pressure. He is initially indecisive and feels abandoned by Qin Fen, but regains confidence once Qin Fen supplies a convincing explanation.
• Qin Fen remains relaxed and opportunistic. He deliberately leaves Matchmaker Yue to suffer for a time, then provides the solution remotely. His growing influence and mysterious abilities are emphasized by his ability to bypass an innate treasure and communicate with the Weaver Girl.
• Little Seventh demonstrates quick thinking and loyalty by recognizing that Mount Li Old Mother could serve as a safe explanation. She is frustrated by Matchmaker Yue’s inability to understand the plan.
• Mount Li Old Mother is portrayed as a respected, powerful, and compassionate figure whose reputation makes her a credible scapegoat and explains how contact with the Weaver Girl could have occurred.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Even Saints are insignificant compared with Heavenly Dao, reinforcing the extreme hierarchy of the celestial world.
• Protection versus suspicion: Queen Mother’s investigation reflects both political caution and maternal concern.
• Trust and cooperation: The characters rely on prearranged plans, indirect assistance, and mutual understanding to navigate danger.
• Cunning and improvisation: Matchmaker Yue survives through Qin Fen’s quick cover story rather than through his own ability to explain the truth.
• The growing threat of Heavenly Dao: Its appearance has made the previously peaceful Three Realms tense and unstable, suggesting larger conflicts ahead.
• Hidden identities and mysterious powers: Qin Fen’s unknown origins, his ability to bypass Queen Mother’s treasures, and the newly activated Light Technique deepen the chapter’s mystery.

Character Interactions

• Queen Mother interrogates Matchmaker Yue in a tense, silent hall while the Seven Fairies watch nervously.
• Little Seventh silently urges Matchmaker Yue to blame Mount Li Old Mother but cannot communicate openly.
• Qin Fen later mocks Matchmaker Yue’s panic while giving him the exact explanation needed to escape the interrogation.
• Matchmaker Yue invokes his history with Bai Suzhen to make the lie more credible.
• Queen Mother’s respect for Mount Li Old Mother resolves the conflict and allows Matchmaker Yue to leave.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen receiving an unexpected supernatural message, shifting the focus from the interrogation to the mysterious Light Technique.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen waits nervously in the mortal world for a video call to connect with Queen Mother, secretly anticipating seeing her.
• In Heaven, Queen Mother dismisses the Seven Fairies and Matchmaker Yue after a surprisingly calm conversation involving Mount Li Old Mother and Bai Suzhen’s preparations.
• Queen Mother not only avoids punishing anyone but also removes the restrictions preventing the Seven Fairies from visiting Weaver Girl freely.
• Matchmaker Yue is astonished, crediting Qin Fen—whom he calls “Daoist Nature”—with accomplishing the seemingly impossible. He remains confused about why Queen Mother reacted so favorably to the black stockings.
• After everyone leaves, Queen Mother privately examines the black stockings Qin Fen arranged for her. Influenced by Mount Li Old Mother’s fashionable appearance, she becomes curious and decides to try them.
• Qin Fen’s video connection activates through the Mysterious Light Technique. He sees Queen Mother emerge through mist and prepare to put on the stockings, becoming intensely fascinated despite insisting he had only wanted to see her appearance.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen is portrayed as outwardly upright but internally nervous, curious, and captivated by Queen Mother’s beauty. His earlier scheme successfully influences events in Heaven, though he remains embarrassed about his motives.
• Queen Mother reveals a more private, feminine, and fashion-conscious side. Although normally majestic and traditional, she is intrigued by new clothing and willing to experiment when alone.
• Matchmaker Yue becomes increasingly convinced that Qin Fen is extraordinarily dangerous and capable of manipulating even powerful immortals. His confusion about women and his fear of Queen Mother’s potential anger provide comic relief.
• The Seven Fairies, particularly Little Seventh, understand that Queen Mother’s good mood means their situation has improved. Little Seventh mocks Matchmaker Yue for failing to recognize the deliberate groundwork behind the outcome.
• Mount Li Old Mother indirectly influences Queen Mother through her stylish use of the stockings and serves as an example of how fashion can challenge Heavenly Court traditions.

3. Significant Themes

• Appearance versus inner motives: Qin Fen presents himself as respectable while secretly enjoying the spectacle, creating humorous tension between his claimed innocence and actual thoughts.
• Fashion as influence and social power: The stockings symbolize novelty and become a tool for changing Queen Mother’s mood, loosening restrictions, and reshaping expectations among the female immortals.
• The hidden personal side of powerful figures: Queen Mother is not merely an authoritative ruler; in private, she is curious, beauty-conscious, and emotionally affected by Weaver Girl’s circumstances.
• Manipulation and unintended consequences: Qin Fen’s carefully arranged plan produces results far beyond what others expected, making him appear almost supernaturally perceptive.
• Comic contrast between Heaven and the mortal world: Qin Fen’s anxious anticipation is juxtaposed with the immortals’ bewilderment, gossip, and attempts to interpret Queen Mother’s unusual reaction.

4. Character Interactions

• Queen Mother and Mount Li Old Mother: Their conversation appears to have put Queen Mother in an unusually good mood. Mount Li’s fashion choices also inspire Queen Mother’s curiosity.
• Matchmaker Yue and the Seven Fairies: Matchmaker Yue repeatedly seeks reassurance that the crisis is over, while Little Seventh criticizes his inability to understand the situation or read women’s intentions.
• Queen Mother and Weaver Girl: Queen Mother thinks of Weaver Girl with melancholy while examining the stockings, suggesting sympathy and an emotional connection beneath her authority.
• Qin Fen and Queen Mother: Their interaction occurs through the video call. Queen Mother senses that she may be watched, while Qin Fen silently observes her and becomes increasingly absorbed in the scene.

Chapter Summary:

Qin the Chef Wins People Over with Virtue

Key Plot Points and Events

• On a rainy night, Qin Fen watches a video from the Heavenly Court through his phone’s mysterious WeChat function. He realizes that the phone’s version of the Mysterious Light Technique is far superior to ordinary spells, allowing it to conceal content even from powerful immortals such as Queen Mother.
• Qin Fen concludes that the phone’s concealment ability comes from a higher-quality or higher-ranked origin, though he chooses not to investigate further. He decides that it is simply an unusually powerful phone and stops watching because each additional viewing costs too much.
• While browsing his classmates’ messages, Qin Fen discovers that Yi Bendao has posted a sensational video and story about three people fighting over a “crybaby.” The post heavily mocks President Luo Yi and quickly spreads throughout Yiling.
• Qin Fen and Yi Bendao exchange messages. Qin Fen jokingly claims that decent people should “win others over with virtue,” while Yi Bendao interprets this as encouragement to destroy Luo Yi’s reputation completely.
• Yi Bendao plans to forward the scandal to Luo Yi’s relatives, including his sister-in-law, then disappears from WeChat before anyone can question him, preserving the mystery and maximizing the gossip’s impact.
• Meanwhile, Luo Yi is suffering at home after being violently beaten by his wife, Big Bug. She is furious because his behavior has publicly humiliated her and made her the subject of ridicule in the building-materials market and their neighborhood.
• Even after Luo Yi promises not to repeat his actions, he admits that he still cannot let the matter go. Enraged by his stubbornness, Big Bug continues beating him with a bamboo rod.
• Big Bug’s younger sister calls to say that Luo Yi has become famous, unintentionally confirming that the embarrassing story has spread to their relatives. This intensifies Big Bug’s anger, and she resumes beating Luo Yi even more fiercely.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains calm, humorous, and pragmatic. Although he recognizes that his phone may possess an extraordinary origin, he does not obsess over it. He also reveals a mischievous side by supporting Yi Bendao’s campaign against Luo Yi while disguising it as “winning people over with virtue.”
• Yi Bendao: Emerges as a fiercely loyal and enthusiastic friend. He enjoys fighting perceived injustice and is willing to spread Luo Yi’s scandal widely, using exaggeration and social gossip as weapons. His joking adoption of the name “Yi Dao Ben” also highlights his irreverent personality.
• Luo Yi: Is reduced to a humiliating and powerless state. His bruised appearance, public disgrace, and repeated punishment show the consequences of his earlier conduct. Despite apologizing, he still cannot emotionally abandon the matter, revealing both stubbornness and poor judgment.
• Big Bug: Becomes increasingly furious as Luo Yi’s scandal spreads. Her anger stems not only from his behavior but also from the public shame it has brought upon her. Her repeated physical punishment shows her explosive temperament and the severe imbalance in their relationship.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and gossip: The chapter humorously demonstrates how quickly scandal spreads, especially through social networks and personal connections. Bad news travels from classmates to strangers, relatives, and entire communities.
• Virtue as a disguise for retaliation: Qin Fen’s phrase about “winning people over with virtue” is deeply ironic. Beneath the moral language lies a willingness to exploit Luo Yi’s downfall and ensure he suffers socially.
• Loyalty and friendship: Yi Bendao’s aggressive support of Qin Fen shows that friendship can take the form of revenge and public mockery in this comedic setting.
• Power and hierarchy: Qin Fen’s phone illustrates the existence of hidden, superior forces. Its spell-suppressing ability is not merely a clever trick but evidence of a higher origin or rank.
• Public humiliation and domestic conflict: Luo Yi’s disgrace grows from a private mistake into a public spectacle, worsening the conflict between him and Big Bug and showing how social shame can intensify personal violence.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen interacts indirectly with the Heavenly Court through his phone, observing Queen Mother while considering the phone’s unusual powers.
• Qin Fen and Yi Bendao share playful but malicious banter. Qin Fen presents himself as restrained, while Yi Bendao enthusiastically translates his words into a plan for total social destruction.
• Yi Bendao’s decision to contact Luo Yi’s sister-in-law extends the conflict beyond the original participants and ensures that Luo Yi’s humiliation reaches his family.
• Luo Yi repeatedly pleads with Big Bug, but his admission that he still cannot “let it go” provokes her into beating him again.
• Big Bug’s sister unknowingly worsens the situation by informing her that Luo Yi has become famous, causing Big Bug to redirect her renewed anger toward him.

Chapter Summary: “Qin Fen Was Very Decent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A video exposing Luo Yi’s affair spreads rapidly through Yiling, beginning with local security guards and quickly reaching neighborhood forums and social media.
• Qin Fen, who helped expose Luo Yi, watches the scandal unfold and predicts that Luo Yi’s wife will punish him severely.
• Qin Fen and Yi Bendao joke about their role in the incident, presenting themselves as “decent people” despite deliberately humiliating Luo Yi.
• Qin Fen posts a second exposé under the username “Groundhog Digs Tunnels.” The new video reveals that Luo Yi and another man conspired to sell potentially defective or hazardous building materials to customers.
• Public reaction shifts from amusement to outrage as former customers fear that the materials may have harmed their homes, families, or children. The post is widely reposted across the city.
• Angry customers gather at Luo Yi’s store demanding refunds and threatening retaliation. Government departments—including industry and commerce, taxation, and quality inspection—arrive, and the store is sealed while its inventory undergoes compulsory inspection.
• The crackdown is intensified by a citywide campaign emphasizing public welfare and environmental safety, giving authorities strong motivation to act against Luo Yi’s business.
• Big Bug, already furious after confronting and beating Luo Yi over his affair, learns that the shop has been shut down. She blames Luo Yi for everything and orders him to deal with the consequences.
• The chapter ends with Big Bug violently confronting Luo Yi again, accusing him of being unable to abandon his immoral behavior.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen reveals himself as calculating, vindictive, and highly effective at exploiting public opinion. His claim that he is “very decent” is deliberately ironic, since he escalates the scandal through carefully timed online releases.
• Yi Bendao acts as Qin Fen’s amused accomplice. Although he enjoys the chaos, the speed and scale of Qin Fen’s schemes begin to unsettle him. He concludes that bizarre events are simply normal whenever Qin Fen is involved.
• Luo Yi falls from a secret adulterer and dishonest businessman to a publicly disgraced figure facing domestic violence, social condemnation, financial ruin, and possible official investigation.
• Big Bug, Luo Yi’s wife, becomes increasingly enraged and aggressive. Her humiliation and anger turn into direct punishment and a determination to make Luo Yi bear responsibility for the disaster.
• The public transforms from entertained spectators into furious victims once they suspect that Luo Yi’s business may have endangered their families.

Significant Themes

• The power and speed of online exposure: A private scandal becomes a citywide phenomenon almost instantly.
• Public shaming and mob justice: Social media outrage quickly produces real-world consequences, including threats, crowds, and business closure.
• Karma and interconnected wrongdoing: Luo Yi’s personal betrayal and commercial misconduct compound each other, causing his entire life and business to collapse at once.
• Irony and moral ambiguity: Qin Fen calls himself “decent” while orchestrating a devastating campaign against Luo Yi. The chapter questions whether exposing wrongdoing is justice, revenge, or both.
• Consequences of harming ordinary people: Once customers believe Luo Yi’s products may have endangered their homes and families, public anger becomes far more intense than the original reaction to his affair.

Character Interactions

• The two security guards discuss the viral video, demonstrating how widely Luo Yi’s affair has spread.
• Qin Fen and Yi Bendao exchange joking messages about their revenge operation, with Yi Bendao gradually recognizing Qin Fen’s unusual ruthlessness and competence.
• Online commenters collectively investigate and condemn Luo Yi, turning the forum into a source of mass outrage.
• Big Bug’s interactions with Luo Yi shift from marital confrontation to open hostility as she orders him to face the customers and authorities.
• The chapter closes with Big Bug verbally and physically attacking Luo Yi, making clear that their relationship has been permanently poisoned by his betrayal.

Chapter Summary: “Running Really Has Its Benefits”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen reflects on the revenge he has already taken and concludes that, regardless of whether he receives compensation, he has achieved his main goal: preventing his enemy from harming anyone else. He believes there may be no “afterward” for him and goes to sleep.
• The next morning, he goes jogging with Little Bean despite the damp weather, thick fog, and poor visibility around the lakeside and residential complex.
• Little Bean continues its comical habit of marking territory and attracts attention with its unusual appearance and bold personality.
• Sun Yujie unexpectedly catches up with Qin Fen while exercising. Wearing sportswear and a ponytail, she is initially difficult for him to recognize.
• Sun Yujie becomes interested in Little Bean and plays with it. Her interaction with the dog leads to an awkward moment when Qin Fen accidentally sees more than he should while looking down at her.
• She suggests that they run together and challenges Qin Fen to a race. She boasts of having competed in overseas marathons and having trained in long-distance running for over five years.
• They make a wager: if Qin Fen loses, he must treat her to a meal; if Sun Yujie loses, she will pay for dinner and a movie. Confident in his improved physical condition from Flower-Fruit Mountain’s food and tea, Qin Fen eagerly accepts.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains focused on revenge and the consequences of his actions, but his mood becomes lighter during the morning run. He is physically confident because of his recent improvement in strength and endurance. His inner thoughts also reveal his humorous, easily flustered side, especially around Sun Yujie.
• Sun Yujie: Appears energetic, confident, and athletic. Her experience with marathons makes her self-assured, and she enjoys teasing Qin Fen. She also shows a friendly and playful side through her affection for Little Bean.
• Little Bean: Continues acting like a territorial, mischievous dog, but quickly cooperates with Sun Yujie and seems amused by the interaction between her and Qin Fen.

Significant Themes

• Consequences and closure: Qin Fen believes his revenge has settled the matter, even though he remains uncertain about his own future.
• Physical improvement and discipline: Running serves as both exercise and evidence of Qin Fen’s growing abilities, which have been enhanced by the special food and tea he consumes.
• Humor amid darker circumstances: The chapter shifts from Qin Fen’s serious thoughts about revenge to lighthearted comedy involving running, Little Bean, and his awkward attraction to Sun Yujie.
• Unexpected companionship: A routine morning jog becomes an opportunity for Qin Fen to reconnect with Sun Yujie and potentially deepen their relationship.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Little Bean share a familiar but understated partnership, with Little Bean constantly demanding attention and silently “commenting” on Qin Fen’s behavior.
• Sun Yujie warmly interacts with Little Bean, immediately finding the dog cute and using it as a natural way to engage Qin Fen.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie tease and challenge each other throughout their conversation. Her playful confidence and his awkward but competitive responses create romantic and comedic tension.
• Their race wager suggests a developing relationship, especially because Sun Yujie offers dinner and a movie if she loses, prompting Qin Fen to humorously speculate about the date’s possible implications.

Chapter Summary

• Race challenge: By the riverside, Sun Yujie challenges Qin Fen to race to the Yangtze River Bridge and back. She secretly prepares herself and gains an unfair head start by saying “go” rapidly after “ready.” Qin Fen notices but accepts her trick with amusement.
• Bet and motivation: The winner determines their reward: Qin Fen will pay for dinner if he loses, while Sun Yujie must pay for an additional movie if she loses. Their playful wager creates a teasing, flirtatious atmosphere.
• Qin Fen’s overwhelming speed: Although Qin Fen smokes before the race and appears to be deliberately giving Sun Yujie an advantage, he quickly accelerates and overtakes her. His speed astonishes nearby pedestrians, while Little Bean keeps pace effortlessly.
• Little Bean’s antics: The Chihuahua follows Qin Fen while cultivating energy from Foxtail Grass. Its improving abilities are evident as it runs at extraordinary speed, casually stops to urinate, and even taunts Sun Yujie by sticking out its tongue.
• Sun Yujie struggles: Sun Yujie runs with all her strength but becomes exhausted. Qin Fen passes her while still able to speak normally, reaches the bridge, and returns before she has covered the full distance. His teasing encouragement only frustrates her further, and she privately labels both Qin Fen and Little Bean “bastards.”
• Unexpected kindness: After Sun Yujie finally returns, Qin Fen gives her a sweet-and-sour fruit drink to restore her energy. He explains that he went home specifically to fetch it, then casually walks away. His thoughtful gesture erases her irritation and leaves her touched and grateful, hinting at growing affection.
• New development: While checking his phone, Qin Fen receives a photograph from the Weaver Girl showing the Seven Fairies together. He is struck by their beauty and humorously imagines them forming a modern, high-energy singing-and-dancing girl group.

Character Development and Interactions

• Qin Fen demonstrates confidence, physical superiority, playful cunning, and hidden consideration. He allows Sun Yujie to believe she has a chance, then decisively wins while maintaining a teasing attitude.
• Sun Yujie is competitive, mischievous, and proud, but her frustration gradually turns into appreciation when she realizes Qin Fen cared enough to bring her a restorative drink.
• Little Bean continues evolving through cultivation and displays unusual speed and intelligence, reinforcing its role as a comic but increasingly powerful companion.
• The elderly couple and bystanders provide humorous commentary, misinterpreting the race as a romantic contest and praising Qin Fen’s supposed willingness to let Sun Yujie win.
• Central themes: playful romance, hidden concern beneath teasing, the contrast between appearances and reality, extraordinary cultivation abilities intruding into ordinary life, and the merging of traditional celestial figures with modern entertainment culture.

Chapter Summary: “I Think the Seven Fairies Can Become Popular”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen examines the high-definition photos he received through the Mysterious Light Technique. The images show the Seven Fairies visiting the Weaver Girl, happily talking together in colorful robes.
• The Weaver Girl sends Qin Fen a message expressing surprise and hope. She interprets the Seven Fairies’ visit as evidence that Queen Mother’s attitude is softening and that her confinement may soon be relaxed.
• Qin Fen reflects on his larger plan. By giving Queen Mother a meaningful gift and a graceful way to reconcile with the Weaver Girl, he has created an opportunity for her to change her position without losing face.
• The matchmaking conference has unexpectedly shifted into a broader political scheme. While it appears to support the Heavenly Court’s reforms and resolve the Weaver Girl’s situation, Matchmaker Yue realizes Qin Fen’s true objective is much greater: repairing the conflict between the various sects and addressing the unresolved consequences of the Investiture of the Gods.
• Qin Fen focuses on Little Seventh’s outfit, particularly her black stockings, but criticizes her boots for lacking the “Sky-Hating Heels” he believes would complete the look. He decides to redesign the Seven Fairies’ fashion for the upcoming Qixi Festival.
• After lunch and a short nap, Qin Fen receives a message from Sun Yujie, who is waiting at their agreed meeting place. He decides to take her shopping so that her professional fashion sense can help him choose suitable high heels and outfits for the fairies.
• Sun Yujie arrives in a black Audi TT wearing a white dress and black Roman heels. Qin Fen is disappointed that she is not wearing stockings, while Sun Yujie is mildly irritated that he pays more attention to his phone than to her.
• They drive downtown to go shopping. Qin Fen remains absorbed in planning the fairies’ transformation, while Sun Yujie views the outing as a significant first date and becomes increasingly aware of Qin Fen’s unusual personality.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Becomes increasingly confident in his elaborate, hidden strategy. He presents himself as casually interested in fashion, but his real ambition is to accumulate Merit and ultimately resolve the Heavenly Court’s ancient sectarian conflicts. He also reveals a humorous obsession with styling the fairies, especially stockings and high heels.
• Weaver Girl: Gains hope that Queen Mother is beginning to regret her past actions and may allow her greater freedom. Her message shows both gratitude toward Qin Fen and anxiety about whether his plan will succeed.
• Queen Mother: Although she does not appear directly, her position is shown to be changing. Qin Fen believes she needs both a practical path toward reconciliation and a socially acceptable excuse to take it.
• Matchmaker Yue: Understands more clearly than anyone else that Qin Fen’s apparent matchmaking efforts conceal a far-reaching political and spiritual agenda. His unpredictability frightens her.
• Sun Yujie: Shows interest in Qin Fen by arranging to meet him alone, something she rarely does with men. She expects him to behave like a conventional date partner but is puzzled and slightly annoyed by his distracted, eccentric behavior.

Significant Themes

• Hidden motives and strategic manipulation: Qin Fen’s seemingly simple actions are part of a much larger plan involving Queen Mother, the Heavenly Court, the sects, and the accumulation of Merit.
• Reconciliation and saving face: The chapter emphasizes that people often need a reasonable excuse or “way down” before admitting fault or changing their position.
• Power of relationships and filial piety: Qin Fen believes emotional bonds and filial devotion can influence even powerful immortals and the Heavenly Dao.
• Comedy through cultural contrast: The grand political and mythological stakes are contrasted with Qin Fen’s mundane concerns about fashion, stockings, footwear, and dating etiquette.
• Romance and misunderstanding: Sun Yujie treats the outing as a potentially meaningful date, while Qin Fen views it primarily as an opportunity to prepare the Seven Fairies’ outfits, creating comic emotional tension.

Character Interactions

• The Seven Fairies’ visit reassures the Weaver Girl and demonstrates that family relations in Heaven are beginning to improve.
• Qin Fen indirectly influences Queen Mother through his gift and his carefully designed reconciliation strategy.
• Matchmaker Yue recognizes Qin Fen’s deeper intentions and is terrified by the scale of his plans.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie begin an awkward one-on-one outing. She watches him expectantly while he remains preoccupied with his phone and the fairies’ future clothing, highlighting their very different expectations.

Chapter Summary: “Shadow War”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie visit Yiling Square and walk through the busy pedestrian shopping district.
• Sun Yujie repeatedly stops to examine clothing, while Qin Fen grows bored and tries to avoid entering the shops.
• Qin Fen uses smoking as an excuse to remain outside the clothing store, turning Sun Yujie’s attempt to draw him inside into a playful contest.
• Sun Yujie tries several tactics to make him participate, including asking his opinion on camisoles and asking him to hold her bag while she tried clothes on.
• Qin Fen counters each attempt with evasive but clever responses. He tells her that she looks good in anything, avoiding the trap of choosing between outfits.
• When she asks him to hold her bag, he distracts her by offering to buy lamb skewers, remembering that she likes them.
• The shop owner repeatedly assumes Qin Fen is Sun Yujie’s boyfriend, intensifying the romantic tension between them.

2. Character Developments

• Qin Fen demonstrates his practical intelligence, stubbornness, and playful cunning. Though he appears lazy and uninterested in shopping, he constantly anticipates Sun Yujie’s moves and finds ways to avoid being manipulated.
• He also reveals a thoughtful side by remembering Sun Yujie’s preference for slightly spicy lamb skewers and buying food for her.
• Sun Yujie, an accomplished and confident young genius, is shown to be playful, competitive, and unaccustomed to losing verbal or psychological contests. Despite her attempts to control the situation, Qin Fen repeatedly outmaneuvers her.
• Sun Yujie’s growing happiness and embarrassment suggest that she has developed genuine affection for Qin Fen, even though neither openly defines their relationship.

3. Significant Themes

• Playful romantic tension: Their outing functions as a battle of flirtation, with each character testing the other’s reactions.
• Cleverness and counterstrategy: The chapter humorously frames ordinary shopping and conversation as a strategic “war,” emphasizing Qin Fen and Sun Yujie’s matching intelligence.
• Different attitudes toward shopping: Qin Fen views shopping as practical and tiring, while Sun Yujie enjoys browsing and trying things on.
• Unspoken emotional intimacy: Their familiarity, teasing, and small acts of consideration reveal a relationship moving beyond ordinary friendship, despite their reluctance to acknowledge it directly.
• Appearance versus reality: Although Qin Fen seems lazy and detached, his actions show attentiveness; although Sun Yujie appears composed and unbeatable, she is emotionally affected by his care.

4. Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie engage in a continuous back-and-forth of teasing and attempted manipulation.
• Sun Yujie tries to lure Qin Fen into the store through flirtatious remarks and requests for his opinion.
• Qin Fen avoids her traps by staying outside to smoke, giving noncommittal compliments, and redirecting her attention toward food.
• The shop owner’s repeated comments that Qin Fen is Sun Yujie’s boyfriend embarrass Sun Yujie and expose the romantic implications of their interaction.
• By the end, Sun Yujie is both frustrated by Qin Fen’s evasiveness and touched by his thoughtfulness, while Qin Fen remains pleased with his successful “counterattack.”

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen accompanies Sun Yujie while she shops for clothes. She tries on an outfit but decides not to buy it because one size is too tight and the next is too loose.
• They share lamb skewers, and Qin Fen teases Sun Yujie when the food proves too spicy for her. Their relaxed, playful outing continues as they walk through the streets.
• Qin Fen notices a shoe shop displaying high heels, particularly “Sky-Hating Heels.” Since he is preparing a complete outfit for the Seven Fairies—black stockings already being one part of it—he decides that the shoes will complete the set.
• He offers to buy Sun Yujie a pair, making her visibly happy. She eagerly enters the shop.
• While Sun Yujie examines the shoes, Qin Fen contacts Weaver Girl. She confirms that the Seven Fairies have already visited her and requested more stockings, indicating that Queen Mother’s attitude toward Weaver Girl has begun to soften.
• Qin Fen promises Weaver Girl another item to help her win the Seven Fairies’ support: the Sky-Hating Heels. He intends for the Seven Fairies to wear them and advocate for Weaver Girl before Queen Mother.
• After arranging the gift, Qin Fen asks Weaver Girl to repay him by sharing her knowledge of weaving, silk reeling, and silkworm cultivation.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen continues to show his unconventional, opportunistic nature. He combines fashion, social influence, and modern products to manipulate the situation in Heaven while also ensuring that he personally gains useful knowledge from Weaver Girl.
• Sun Yujie becomes increasingly comfortable and affectionate around Qin Fen. Though she is often embarrassed or annoyed by his behavior, she enjoys his attention and is delighted when he offers to buy her shoes.
• Weaver Girl has gained hope after the Seven Fairies’ visit and Queen Mother’s apparent change in attitude. Her faith in Qin Fen grows stronger, as she views him as an almost omnipotent ally who may finally help reunite her with her beloved.
• The Seven Fairies are portrayed as enthusiastic consumers of Qin Fen’s modern “treasures,” especially the stockings and anticipated heels, giving them a potential role in influencing Queen Mother.
• Queen Mother does not appear directly, but her willingness to let the Seven Fairies visit Weaver Girl suggests a significant shift in her opposition.

Significant Themes

• Love and matchmaking: Qin Fen’s plan uses the Seven Fairies as intermediaries to advance Weaver Girl’s romantic hopes and soften Queen Mother’s resistance.
• Modernity influencing the supernatural: Ordinary fashion items such as stockings and high heels are treated as extraordinary magical treasures in the immortal world.
• Humor through cultural misunderstanding: Weaver Girl assumes the shoes must have powerful supernatural functions, while Qin Fen primarily values their appearance and ability to complete an outfit.
• Mutual exploitation and friendship: Qin Fen helps Weaver Girl, but he also expects compensation in the form of her practical knowledge.
• Romantic tension: Qin Fen and Sun Yujie’s teasing, food-sharing, and shopping trip reveal growing intimacy beneath their constant bickering.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie exchange playful banter while shopping and eating. He praises her appearance, teases her over the spicy lamb, and offers to buy her high heels, while she responds with embarrassment, amusement, and obvious pleasure.
• Qin Fen and Weaver Girl communicate about the progress of her relationship with Queen Mother. He presents himself as her dependable supporter, while Weaver Girl responds with deep gratitude and admiration.
• Qin Fen frames the Sky-Hating Heels as a gift for the Seven Fairies, intending to gain their goodwill and have them promote Weaver Girl’s cause. The exchange also reinforces his habit of turning every favor into a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Weaver Girl is inspired by Qin Fen’s earlier encouragement and successfully sends him her “Sericulture and Weaving Insights,” spending a significant amount of his remaining chat-system balance.
• While shopping with Sun Yujie, Qin Fen helps her choose a pair of stylish black high heels costing 268 yuan. He decisively buys two pairs, claiming the second is for his cousin’s upcoming internship.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie head to a cinema to watch Pancake Man. Before the movie, Qin Fen secretly takes the shoes to the restroom and transfers one pair through the chat system.
• The system converts the shoes into a magical-artifact transfer, leaving Qin Fen with a balance of 3,714. He also absorbs the Weaver Girl’s extensive weaving knowledge and techniques.
• The Weaver Girl receives the shoes and interprets them as a powerful close-combat artifact. She imagines their sharp heels being used to injure opponents and recognizes their elegant design as especially suited to female immortals.
• Qin Fen reveals that the shoes are only a prototype and instructs the Weaver Girl to reproduce them with better materials. He intends to distribute pairs among the Seven Fairies and influential immortals such as Bai Suzhen and Mount Li Old Mother.
• The chapter ends with Qin Fen plotting to impress or provoke the Queen Mother with the completed magical set. A note hints that one final piece of the set is still missing.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen continues to exploit the chat system creatively, transforming ordinary modern objects into supposedly powerful magical artifacts. He becomes more ambitious, planning a complete set rather than a single pair of shoes.
• He demonstrates sharp social awareness while shopping, correctly understanding that Sun Yujie wants reassurance about both the shoes and their price.
• Qin Fen also becomes increasingly confident and scheming, thinking ahead about how the artifacts might influence powerful figures such as Mount Li Old Mother and the Queen Mother.
• The Weaver Girl gains confidence from Qin Fen’s encouragement and shows her expertise by successfully transmitting her weaving knowledge. After receiving the shoes, she is amazed by Qin Fen’s unconventional ideas and begins treating him as an exceptionally ingenious senior.
• Sun Yujie is portrayed as fashionable, practical, considerate, and financially capable, though she is amused and slightly suspicious when she realizes Qin Fen may have used the outing partly to acquire items for his own purposes.

Significant Themes

• Modern objects reimagined as magical artifacts: Ordinary high heels are given immense supernatural significance through the perceptions of immortals.
• Ingenuity and resourcefulness: Qin Fen repeatedly turns mundane resources into tools for gaining influence in the immortal world.
• Perception and cultural misunderstanding: The Weaver Girl interprets fashion footwear as combat equipment because of her immortal worldview, creating humor through the contrast between Qin Fen’s intentions and her assumptions.
• Ambition and strategic planning: Qin Fen is not satisfied with a one-time success; he plans a full artifact set designed to impress powerful immortals.
• Trust and encouragement: The Weaver Girl’s willingness to help is strengthened by Qin Fen’s earlier words, showing the motivational effect of his support.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen and the Weaver Girl interact indirectly through the chat system. He receives her cultivation and weaving knowledge, while she receives the shoes and becomes increasingly impressed by his creativity.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie share a lighthearted shopping experience. He gives her the affirmation she wants, makes the purchase quickly, and later secretly transfers the shoes without explaining their true purpose.
• Qin Fen mentally plans future interactions with Bai Suzhen, Mount Li Old Mother, and the Queen Mother, viewing the magical shoes as tools for expanding his influence among the immortals.

Chapter Summary

Qin Fen continues manipulating the Heavenly Court’s fashion trends as part of his plan to win Queen Mother’s favor. Weaver Girl believes his request for “Sky-Hating Heels” carries profound meaning and eagerly agrees to create them. She asks whether the heels should possess offensive or defensive abilities, revealing that immortals assume all unusual objects may be magical weapons. Qin Fen is horrified by the idea of high heels firing lightning or generating shields, and insists that they remain simple and decorative. Weaver Girl interprets this as a lesson in the power of specialized, single-purpose design.
Weaver Girl quickly produces the heels using Flood Dragon Hide, greatly improving their texture and appearance. She distributes them to the Seven Fairies, who enthusiastically model them in photographs. Little Seventh and Little Fifth even combine the heels with black stockings. Qin Fen is pleased with their popularity but criticizes the clash between the stylish accessories and the fairies’ traditional immortal robes. He realizes that the outfits themselves must be modernized, and decides that the qipao would best highlight Chinese women’s beauty while appealing to Queen Mother.
Meanwhile, Qin Fen leaves the restroom and joins Sun Yujie for a movie. They sit in the back row, sharing popcorn and cola while watching Pancake Man. Sun Yujie becomes absorbed in the film, while Qin Fen continues planning his Heavenly Court fashion campaign. He considers sending additional clothing items to make Queen Mother happier and increase his chances of success.
Qin Fen’s plotting is interrupted when a hand suddenly reaches toward him and grabs what he thinks is his most vulnerable “critical point.” He reacts in alarm, only for it to become clear that Sun Yujie was simply reaching across him for more popcorn. The scene ends on this comedic misunderstanding.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Qin Fen grows increasingly confident as a fashion strategist and schemer, using modern clothing to influence the immortals and pursue his larger goal with Queen Mother.
• Weaver Girl proves highly capable, obedient, and creatively talented. She quickly understands Qin Fen’s vague instructions and produces high-quality magical-material footwear.
• The Seven Fairies eagerly embrace the new fashion, demonstrating that Qin Fen’s influence is spreading through the Heavenly Court.
• Sun Yujie enjoys the movie and casually shares Qin Fen’s snacks, contrasting with his distracted plotting.
• Qin Fen and Weaver Girl maintain a mentor-student dynamic, although Weaver Girl vastly overinterprets his ordinary fashion suggestions.
• Qin Fen and Sun Yujie share a relaxed, familiar outing, with the popcorn incident providing the chapter’s main comic interaction.

Significant Themes

• Cultural misunderstanding and comedic reinterpretation: Ordinary modern fashion is treated by immortals as profound or potentially magical technology.
• Fashion as influence: Qin Fen uses clothing and accessories as diplomatic tools to gain Queen Mother’s approval.
• Modernity versus tradition: The fashionable heels and stockings clash with the fairies’ ancient robes, highlighting the tension between new styles and traditional immortal culture.
• Scheming through generosity: Qin Fen relies on gifts and favors to gradually build influence in the Heavenly Court.
• Comedy from perspective: Qin Fen sees the heels as simple accessories, while Weaver Girl and the immortals interpret them as meaningful creations with possible combat functions.

Chapter Summary: Please Don’t Eat Popcorn at the Cinema

Plot and events

Qin Fen and Sun Yujie go to the cinema together. Qin Fen places the popcorn bucket on the empty seat beside him while messaging Weaver Girl. Without looking, Sun Yujie reaches for the popcorn but accidentally grabs Qin Fen instead. Both are horrified and embarrassed, though neither can explain the situation without making it worse. When Qin Fen eventually moves the popcorn toward her, she knocks it over, and while they both try to catch the falling pieces, another accidental contact occurs. The awkward “score” of embarrassing incidents becomes three to two, leaving both convinced that their bad luck—and perhaps the other person’s “revenge”—is escalating.
Neither pays attention to the comedy Pancake Man. Afterward, they hurriedly eat at a skewer restaurant, and Sun Yujie quickly drives Qin Fen back to their meeting place before leaving. Qin Fen reflects that the outing may have been his first real date, though it ended in chaotic embarrassment rather than romance. He does not regret that nothing further happened and assumes Sun Yujie was too flustered to continue.
Once home, Qin Fen begins planning clothing for the Heavenly Court’s women’s group. Since he lacks Weaver Girl’s creativity, he searches online for qipao designs and decides that the style offers the best balance of elegance and visual appeal. He orders tailoring tools, fabrics, and a sewing machine, choosing bright yellow and icy white with a silvery sheen. He plans to have everything delivered to the shop, where he can use Sun Yating and the other women as models. Unaware of this, Sun Yating suddenly sneezes and jokes that someone must be talking about her.

Character development

• Qin Fen remains inexperienced and easily overwhelmed by romantic or sexual situations, but he responds with restraint rather than taking advantage of the misunderstanding. He begins to view the outing as a possible first date and shows growing initiative by planning and creating clothing himself.
• Sun Yujie is revealed to be equally innocent and embarrassed. Her frantic reactions and quick departure show how deeply the cinema mishap affects her, but her willingness to spend time with Qin Fen suggests some comfort and interest in him.
• Sun Yating is unknowingly drawn into Qin Fen’s next project, likely becoming one of his future models or assistants.

Themes

The chapter uses awkward physical comedy, misunderstandings, and escalating embarrassment to explore the uncertainty of early romance. It also contrasts Qin Fen’s chaotic personal life with his increasingly practical and creative role in designing clothing for the Heavenly Court. A recurring theme is the gap between online expectations of dating and the messy reality of human interaction.

Character interactions

Qin Fen and Sun Yujie’s repeated accidental contact creates intense mutual embarrassment, but they remain considerate and avoid directly blaming each other. Their awkward conversation and hurried goodbye suggest a relationship with potential, even though neither can openly address what happened. Qin Fen’s plans also connect him indirectly to Sun Yating, setting up future interactions involving the clothing project.

Chapter Summary: “Qixi Festival Approaches, Ghost Festival Follows”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After placing an online order, Qin Fen walks through the quiet Dragon Pool Lake Residential Community at night.
• While browsing WeChat, he discovers a group chat belonging to Underworld officials—Ox-Head, Horse-Face, White Impermanence, and Black Impermanence.
• The Underworld officers complain that life has become extremely difficult since Immortal-Mortal Severance separated the mortal and immortal realms. Without access to the Mortal Realm, the Underworld has little influence or opportunity to operate.
• Their complaints reveal that the Underworld is wary of powerful Earthly Immortal Realm forces, including Zhen Yuanzi, Buddhist figures, and various demon kings and great sages.
• Qin Fen realizes that Qixi Festival is approaching, followed by Ghost Festival, when the Ghost Gate traditionally opens. He suspects WeChat has connected him to the Underworld because of the upcoming festival.
• He considers whether he can exploit or “play around with” the Underworld during Ghost Festival, but initially concludes that most Underworld officials have limited practical value.
• By the end of the chapter, Qin Fen recognizes that although individual Yin Spirits seem weak and poorly equipped, the Six Paths of Reincarnation are fundamental laws of Heaven and Earth and therefore contain enormous merit and potential.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen remains fearless, irreverent, and opportunistic. He is not intimidated by the Underworld, reasoning that it remains under Heavenly Court’s authority and cannot easily interfere with him because of Immortal-Mortal Severance.
• His earlier atheism has weakened due to his experiences with Heavenly Court and supernatural beings. He now accepts bizarre spiritual phenomena as plausible, though he still approaches them analytically and skeptically.
• Qin Fen’s tendency to treat powerful divine institutions as potential resources becomes even clearer. Rather than fearing the Underworld, he evaluates what benefits its laws, officials, and treasures might offer.
• He also jokes about Black Impermanence’s effeminate tone, speculating that Matchmaker Yue may have influenced or manipulated him, reflecting Qin Fen’s continuing irreverence toward divine figures.

Significant Themes

• The decline of divine institutions after Immortal-Mortal Severance: The Underworld, like Heavenly Court and other supernatural organizations, has lost much of its former influence because it can no longer freely interact with mortals.
• Power versus usefulness: Qin Fen distinguishes between an institution’s terrifying reputation and its actual practical value. Although the Underworld inspires fear among mortals, its officials appear weak and constrained.
• Human fear of death: The chapter emphasizes that the Underworld is more frightening than ordinary myths because it represents death, reincarnation, and the unknown beyond life.
• Laws of Heaven and Earth: Despite the apparent weakness of individual Yin Spirits, reincarnation itself is portrayed as an ancient, immensely powerful system carrying boundless merit.
• Irreverence toward authority: Qin Fen’s casual attitude toward Heavenly Court and the Underworld undermines traditional religious fear and highlights his confidence and unconventional worldview.

Character Interactions

• The Underworld officials interact through a group chat, collectively lamenting their reduced status and difficult circumstances.
• Ox-Head, Horse-Face, White Impermanence, and Black Impermanence speak as low-ranking employees frustrated by their lack of power and resources.
• Qin Fen observes their conversation without directly participating, judging their personalities and status.
• He particularly notices Black Impermanence’s unusual speech and jokingly connects it to Matchmaker Yue’s possible romantic or matchmaking antics.
• The contrast between the Underworld officials’ complaints and Qin Fen’s amused evaluation establishes him as an outsider who views their supposedly terrifying organization as a potentially exploitable opportunity.

Chapter Summary: “Origins of the Underworld’s Situation, Mahjong”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Fen returns home and feeds Little Bean dog food mixed with Monkey Wine, despite the dog’s obvious reluctance.
• Little Bean reflects on his master and realizes that Qin Fen is far more mysterious and powerful than he appears. Though Qin Fen seems to be an ordinary mortal with no cultivation, his body is surrounded by immense merit, Primordial Yellow Qi, and a formidable dharma image.
• Little Bean is especially frightened by Qin Fen’s smartphone. The phone occasionally emits purple qi that resonates with Qin Fen, forming an indestructible heavenly formation. Little Bean concludes that Qin Fen is protected by forces beyond his understanding and wisely chooses not to oppose him.
• Qin Fen remains completely unaware of the supernatural forces surrounding him, attributing his extraordinary circumstances to good luck.
• Looking for entertainment, Qin Fen uses WeChat to contact Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Black Impermanence, and White Impermanence in the Underworld.
• The four Yin Spirits are startled by the simultaneous mental transmission and assume Qin Fen is an extremely powerful immortal. They respectfully offer to accommodate his wishes.
• Qin Fen proposes a four-person game to help them pass the time, eventually suggesting mahjong.
• Before revealing his suggestion, Qin Fen considers the Underworld’s political and religious situation. He recognizes that the Ghost Festival and the Buddhist Ullambana Festival helped Buddhism—particularly Ksitigarbha—establish influence in the Underworld.
• As a result, the Underworld is caught between Heavenly Court administration and Ksitigarbha’s Buddhist authority, creating a complicated dual-management system. Qin Fen understands that he must avoid directly threatening Ksitigarbha’s interests while still beginning his plan.

Character Developments

• Qin Fen: Remains outwardly ordinary and unaware of his immense hidden merit and protection. However, he demonstrates growing strategic awareness by carefully choosing an innocent way to approach the Underworld and by investigating its power structure before acting.
• Little Bean: Develops a deep fear and respect for Qin Fen. His divine heritage allows him to perceive Qin Fen’s mysterious merit and the phone’s unusual power, convincing him that his master is connected to forces far beyond mortal comprehension.
• Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Black Impermanence, and White Impermanence: Initially casual and drinking together, they become alarmed and submissive after receiving Qin Fen’s message. Their reactions show how intimidating Qin Fen appears from the perspective of the Underworld’s officials.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and mistaken identity: Qin Fen appears weak and ordinary, yet supernatural forces protect him. Conversely, he does not understand the true nature of his own power.
• Faith, authority, and institutional conflict: The Underworld’s situation reflects competition between Heavenly Court and Buddhism, especially through Ksitigarbha’s influence.
• Strategic deception: Qin Fen plans to approach the Underworld indirectly, using a harmless game as a “hook” rather than openly challenging its authorities.
• Modernity meeting mythology: WeChat, smartphones, and mahjong are introduced into the traditional supernatural worlds, creating comedic and unexpected interactions.
• Fear of the unknown: Little Bean and the Underworld officials are frightened because they cannot comprehend Qin Fen’s origin, abilities, or intentions.

Character Interactions

• Qin Fen treats Little Bean like an ordinary, troublesome pet, while Little Bean views him as an incomprehensibly powerful master.
• Qin Fen contacts the four Underworld officials casually, but they interpret his message as the command of a terrifying immortal.
• The officials respond with exaggerated respect and caution, while Qin Fen remains unaware of how intimidating he seems.
• Qin Fen’s proposal to teach them mahjong begins his planned connection with the Underworld and sets up the coming conflict involving its “first kill.”