Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Poisonous Scheme”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Qi returns to his residence enraged after learning that the Emperor has refused his request and plans to grant the Dragon Maiden a title.
• He and his advisers suspect that Prince Shu may have uncovered their secret plans involving the Dragon Maiden and the mysterious “place,” a guarded reference to the Demon Race.
• Adviser Wen Xunpeng proposes two possible responses: remain inactive to avoid arousing the Emperor’s suspicion, or strike decisively before the imperial edict is issued.
• Prince Qi chooses aggression and orders Shen Jingshan to carry out the backup plan and make another attempt.
• He also summons Liu Zhan, despite Liu’s closeness to Prince Shu, intending to exploit Liu’s hatred of the Dragon Lord. Prince Qi hopes to use Liu both against the Dragon Maiden and to damage the trust between Liu and Prince Shu.
• Prince Qi learns that one of his palace servants has been assigned to Princess Xinping. He orders her to encourage Xinping to become closer to Su Ziji, hoping to create an improper relationship between the princess and Su Ziji.
• Since Su Ziji carries the Crown Prince Bloodline, Prince Qi intends to use the scandal to bring disaster upon both Xinping and Su Ziji.
• Meanwhile, Su Ziji returns from the Imperial Flower Banquet after placing first in the examinations. Though he appears slightly drunk, he quickly regains his composure upon reaching home.
• At the banquet, Su Ziji responds differently to his fellow Presented Scholars: he tolerates and returns the toasts of those who act respectfully, but openly dismisses two arrogant men.
• His residence is crowded with neighbors and well-wishers bringing gifts. Su Ziji’s household accepts only modest presents, declines expensive ones, and hosts a meal for the visitors.
• Wild Daoist then shows Su Ziji the gift register, revealing an unexpectedly generous congratulatory gift from Prince Lu. Su Ziji is puzzled because he has no relationship or prior dealings with Prince Lu.

Character Developments

• Prince Qi becomes increasingly ruthless and desperate. His frustration over losing control of the situation leads him to approve multiple dangerous schemes rather than wait cautiously.
• Wen Xunpeng demonstrates his careful, politically cautious nature by speaking indirectly about the Demon Race and presenting both passive and aggressive options.
• Chu Gurong feels threatened by Wen Xunpeng’s return and tries to preserve his own influence by questioning the wisdom of involving Liu Zhan.
• Prince Qi’s advisers and servants are intimidated by his violent temper, but they still carry out his orders and accept increasingly immoral plans.
• Su Ziji displays political awareness and self-control. He handles both hostility and praise strategically, refusing to be manipulated by empty friendliness while maintaining proper conduct.
• Liu Zhan is established as potentially useful to Prince Qi because of his opposition to the Dragon Lord, despite his association with Prince Shu.
• Prince Lu becomes a mysterious new presence through his unexpectedly valuable gift to Su Ziji.

Significant Themes

• Political intrigue and power struggles: Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and the Emperor are maneuvering around the Dragon Maiden and the Dragon Lord, with secret alliances and hidden channels shaping events.
• Manipulation through scandal: Prince Qi plans to manufacture an improper relationship between Princess Xinping and Su Ziji to destroy both of them politically.
• Desperation versus caution: Wen Xunpeng recommends restraint, but Prince Qi’s impatience pushes him toward increasingly dangerous actions.
• Public reputation and official status: Su Ziji’s success as Top Scorer marks his transition from student to participant in the political world, where both praise and hostility carry hidden motives.
• Appearances and hidden intentions: Friendly toasts, congratulatory gifts, and alliances may conceal ulterior motives, while characters carefully avoid saying sensitive matters openly.

Character Interactions

• Prince Qi consults Wen Xunpeng and Chu Gurong about the Emperor’s decision and the possible involvement of Prince Shu.
• Prince Qi overrides Chu Gurong’s warning and decides to summon Liu Zhan for his own strategic purposes.
• He instructs his palace agent to manipulate Princess Xinping’s relationship with Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji interacts with hostile and friendly Presented Scholars at the banquet, responding according to their behavior.
• At home, he speaks with Wild Daoist about the household’s handling of congratulatory visitors and gifts.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji and his household trying to interpret Prince Lu’s unexpected gift, suggesting another political development is about to unfold.

Key plot points and events

• Su Ziji is puzzled when Prince Lu sends him a gift, since Lu is politically vulnerable between the rival courts of the Princes of Qi and Shu.
• A stranger, Cen Rubai, explains the princes’ rivalry and warns Su not to get involved. Su is intrigued by Cen’s knowledge and confidence, but lets him leave.
• An imperial envoy arrives with a decree appointing Su both a compiler and an acting deputy prefectural inspector in Shunan Prefecture. The immediate assignment is an unusually promising start to his official career.
• After the guests depart, Cen reveals that he once served in Lin Yuqing’s household and asks to become Su’s private secretary. He admits bluntly that Su’s imperial favor makes him a useful prospective employer.
• Su accepts him provisionally, asking him to join the party when it sets out so they can settle the terms. Outside, Cen meets One Sword, Spring Chill, who questions why he is seeking employment.
• Both Cen and Su privately feel an inexplicable familiarity with one another, despite having just met.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ziji remains courteous and politically cautious. He suspects the appointment may have hidden motives, even as he publicly celebrates it. He is amused by Cen’s candor and open to hiring him, but keeps the arrangement conditional.
• Cen Rubai shifts from an arrogant, observant stranger to a frank job-seeker. A former retainer of the disgraced Lin Yuqing, he says he needs protection and a livelihood while people search for him.
• One Sword, Spring Chill acts as a familiar acquaintance and cautious voice, disapproving of Cen’s timing but understanding his need for shelter.
• Su and Cen’s exchange is marked by mutual curiosity and humor; Cen’s directness wins Su’s interest, while their unexplained sense of recognition hints at a deeper connection.

Significant themes

• Political uncertainty: Prince Lu’s gift and Su’s sudden appointment both raise questions about factional maneuvering and hidden motives.
• Patronage and survival: Cen seeks a powerful employer for security and food, while Su weighs the obligations involved in taking him on.
• Fate and familiarity: The chapter closes on the suggestion that Su and Cen feel connected “like old friends at first sight.”

Chapter Summary: “Torn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dawn, the crowded docks of Capital City prepare to send off Imperial Envoy Luo Pei and Su Ziji, who will travel together by official ship.
• Su Ziji is being sent to Shunan Prefecture under imperial orders to serve temporarily as acting commandery assistant and observe the administration of the commandery and its counties. He expects to remain there no more than a year, possibly only a few months.
• Su’s travel arrangements are more secure than on his previous journey: he has an official ship, armored soldiers, and additional protection for the overland portion of the trip.
• He decides that Wild Daoist, Ye Buhui, Zhou Yao, and the two foxes will remain in the capital. Wild Daoist will manage Su’s affairs, protect Ye Buhui, oversee business matters, and send news through trained carrier pigeons.
• Su spends time greeting Luo Pei’s attendants and organizing his luggage before saying goodbye to Ye Buhui and Wild Daoist.
• He reassures Ye Buhui that he will return soon and asks Zhou Yao to look after her. Wild Daoist promises to protect Ye Buhui and keep Su’s business running.
• Princess Xinping arrives at the docks with Fang Zhen and palace attendants, intending to see Su Ziji off. However, she hesitates to approach, conflicted by her resentment toward him, guilt over her mother’s punishment, and discomfort around Ye Buhui.
• After seeing Ye Buhui bid farewell to Su, Xinping decides not to go over. Fang Zhen remains with her, following an imperial order to monitor her interaction with Su.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji appears increasingly responsible and organized. He carefully plans the journey, assigns duties to his companions, and reassures those who care about him rather than focusing only on his own departure.
• Ye Buhui reveals strong attachment to Su Ziji and struggles emotionally with his leaving. Her silent reluctance to let him go emphasizes their closeness.
• Wild Daoist demonstrates loyalty and reliability, taking on responsibility for Ye Buhui, Su’s finances, and communication with the capital.
• Princess Xinping is shown to be deeply conflicted. Though she resents Su for humiliating her and believes his distant assignment is a form of imperial revenge, she still cares enough to come to the docks. Her inability to face him reflects both pride and emotional uncertainty.
• Fang Zhen becomes aware of the emperor’s complicated intentions but is too cautious to speculate openly. His role is increasingly that of a watcher and handler for Xinping.

Significant Themes

• Separation and attachment: Su’s departure exposes the emotional bonds between him, Ye Buhui, Wild Daoist, and others.
• Duty versus personal feeling: Su accepts his imperial assignment despite its inconvenience, while Xinping struggles between her desire to see him and her pride and resentment.
• Political surveillance and hidden motives: Fang Zhen’s orders and the emperor’s interest in Xinping’s contact with Su suggest that the departure has political implications beyond the official explanation.
• Responsibility and trust: Su entrusts his household, business, and intelligence network to those he believes capable of protecting them.
• Emotional conflict: The chapter’s title is reflected in Xinping’s divided feelings—anger, guilt, concern, and unwilling admiration—as well as the broader tension between public duty and private relationships.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Luo Pei: They exchange formal courtesies before boarding the ship together, establishing their temporary partnership.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: He comforts her, assures her that the separation is temporary, and physically comforts her by tucking back her hair.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist: They discuss protection, finances, business operations, and communication during Su’s absence.
• Su Ziji and Zhou Yao: He politely asks Zhou Yao to care for Ye Buhui while he is away.
• Princess Xinping and Fang Zhen: Fang Zhen urges her to decide whether to approach Su, while privately recognizing the danger and political significance of her actions.
• Princess Xinping and Ye Buhui: Though they do not directly interact, Ye Buhui’s presence makes Xinping feel guilty and ultimately causes her to abandon the idea of saying goodbye to Su.

Plot points and events

• As Su Ziji boards the official ship, Prince Qi watches from an ox cart, frustrated that his plans have been thwarted. Believing the emperor deliberately protected Su Ziji by sending him away, he orders a trusted eunuch to oversee the Dragon Palace mission and, if possible, kill Su Ziji. Liu Zhan and Chu Gurong are also assigned to the expedition, with Chu mainly tasked with watching Su Ziji.
• The ship departs. Su Ziji greets Liu Zhan, a senior official and powerful Daoist whom he hopes to learn from. Their exchange is formally courteous, though Su privately distrusts Liu because of his past hostility toward demons and the Young Dragon.
• When Su asks for Daoist instruction, Liu begins to accept but abruptly changes his mind, claiming he has reached a bottleneck. He instead offers to discuss painting and calligraphy.
• Luo Pei joins them, warmly encouraging the discussion and inviting them to the ship’s hall. He jokes that Liu, a skilled painter, will finally have to paint for him. The group heads inside as supplies are prepared.

Character developments and interactions

• Prince Qi grows more resentful of his father and shifts his plans to an expedition led in his place by a loyal eunuch. His order to kill Su Ziji makes clear that Su remains a target.
• Su Ziji balances ambition with caution: he seeks instruction from Liu but remains wary of the older man’s motives. His new status as Top Scorer and imperial appointee gives him confidence to approach Liu.
• Liu Zhan is courteous and acknowledges Su’s standing as an imperial envoy, but a sudden unexplained chill makes him refuse to teach Daoist arts. His ease with Luo Pei contrasts with his guardedness toward Su.
• Luo Pei treats Su warmly and respectfully, while sharing familiar, teasing banter with Liu. He steers their interaction toward a more comfortable subject.

Significant themes

• Court intrigue and danger: Su’s posting does not remove him from political threats; Prince Qi’s orders follow him onto the journey.
• Rank, merit, and career prospects: Liu reflects on how provincial appointments can stall a scholar’s advancement, while Su’s unusual assignments leave the emperor’s intentions uncertain.
• Courtesy versus hidden motives: Polite exchanges coexist with distrust, political maneuvering, and Liu’s unexplained hesitation.
• Conflicting loyalties: Su and Liu’s differing attitudes toward the Young Dragon suggest their interests may ultimately clash.

Key plot points and events

• Aboard the official ship, Su Ziji and Luo Pei watch Liu Zhan paint a vast, layered landscape: heavenly realms above, increasingly impoverished settlements below, and a hellish region at the bottom.
• Luo Pei praises Liu Zhan’s powerful, distinctive style, then asks for a poem to accompany the painting. Su Ziji recites and writes a poem criticizing corrupt officials and contrasting hardship with privilege. Luo Pei argues that the poem fits: an official’s choices can make the difference between heaven and hell for the people.
• Luo Pei demonstrates his calligraphy, while Liu Zhan’s painting teaches Su Ziji advanced ink-wash techniques. Su Ziji’s unusual ability to learn from these works also brings a major advance in his Daoist cultivation.
• From the knowledge embedded in Liu Zhan’s painting, Su Ziji discovers the Yin Temple Sect’s deepest secret: its Grotto-Heaven connects to a real Underworld and has been transformed into a vast Demon Refining Furnace. The sect draws in the souls of slain monsters and tortures and refines them for spiritual energy.
• Realizing this explains the sect’s hatred of monsters—and its interest in the Dragon Maiden—Su Ziji grows alarmed for her safety. He conceals his reaction and acts as though he is simply seeking instruction.
• Luo Pei recognizes Su Ziji’s quick understanding and praises his talent. Liu Zhan, unusually warm and encouraging, urges him to pursue painting seriously. Su Ziji agrees, though privately he wants to return and examine what he has learned.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ziji gains skill in calligraphy and painting, as well as a significant boost to his Daoist method. More importantly, he uncovers a dangerous secret and shifts from curiosity to urgent concern for the Dragon Maiden.
• Luo Pei acts as both critic and teacher. He appreciates the moral force of Su Ziji’s poem, offers calligraphy instruction, and becomes more impressed by Su Ziji’s aptitude.
• Liu Zhan reveals an artistic side alongside his formidable Daoist abilities. His painting inadvertently exposes his sect’s hidden practice, and he shows sincere encouragement toward Su Ziji’s artistic talent.
• The three men share a moment of artistic exchange: Liu Zhan paints, Su Ziji supplies a poem, and Luo Pei connects their works to the responsibilities of officials.

Significant themes

• Power and moral responsibility: Officials can create either justice or misery; the poem frames heaven and hell as conditions shaped by human choices.
• Art as revelation: The painting is both an artwork and a map to the Yin Temple Sect’s secret, demonstrating how beauty can conceal—or expose—terrible truths.
• Hidden cruelty behind public virtue: The sect’s war against monsters is revealed as a brutal system of exploitation, not merely righteous combat.
• Knowledge and danger: Su Ziji’s talent lets him uncover truths others cannot see, but that knowledge immediately places someone he cares about at risk.

Summary

• Su Ziji and Luo Pei discuss governance: As their boats travel along the Jigeng River, Su Ziji and Luo Pei talk about Emperor Shizu’s accomplishments, especially the canal and the importance of avoiding excessive labor demands on the people. Su’s historical knowledge, political insight, and poetic skill impress Luo, who recognizes his unusual promise for a seventeen-year-old. Liu Zhan gives Su a poem and painting as a reminder to cultivate calmness.
• Luo Pei plans the Dragon Maiden’s investiture: Liu advises Luo to inspect the three provinces under his commission and correct abuses before conferring a title on the Dragon Maiden. He argues that public welfare and social harmony are the most fitting auspices. Luo agrees that peace for the people matters more than choosing an auspicious date.
• A plot against Su emerges: Back on Liu Zhan’s boat, Prince Qi’s chief eunuch, Luo Ji, and advisor Chu Gurong discuss killing Su by throwing him overboard. Chu warns that Su is a capable fighter, based on his role in Lin Yuqing’s death. Liu confirms Su has advanced martial skills but detects no Daoist Arts.
• Liu refuses to help: Though the conspirators hope to enlist him, Liu declines to take part in killing Su, saying he acts according to his conscience. He will still help them deal with the Dragon Maiden. After he leaves, Chu suggests they ambush Su near Mingde Prefecture and, if he survives, have another chance to attack him in Shunan.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ziji demonstrates a blend of scholarship, political judgment, and martial ability, earning Luo’s admiration. He remains composed and gracious in his exchanges.
• Luo Pei is impressed by Su but cautions that rapid advancement may not be a blessing. He also shows a concern for governance grounded in the people’s welfare.
• Liu Zhan shifts from courteous companion and advisor to principled dissenter, refusing to assist in Su’s murder.
• Luo Ji and Chu Gurong reveal their hostility toward Su and move from considering a covert killing to planning a larger ambush.

Significant themes

• Good governance and the people’s welfare: Responsible public works and correcting abuses are presented as more valuable than spectacle or ritual.
• Talent, ambition, and uncertainty: Su’s early brilliance inspires admiration, while Liu and Luo reflect on the unpredictable risks of prominence.
• Conscience amid political intrigue: Liu’s refusal contrasts with the conspirators’ willingness to use violence for political ends.
• Hidden danger beneath courtesy: Su’s thoughtful conversation aboard one boat is juxtaposed with a murder plot developing on another.

Chapter Summary: Seeking It in the Heart of Heaven

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning to his boat, Su Ziji reflects on what he learned about the Yin Temple Sect:
  • Grotto-Heavens can protect inner disciples’ souls from being taken by the Underworld, though their capacity is limited.
  • Only inner disciples can access enough spiritual energy to return from the Acquired Realm to the Innate Realm.
  • Elixir cultivators and the Demon-Slaying Tower hunt Monsters primarily for their cores and souls, which are used as materials for refining medicine.
  • The Yin Temple Sect’s prosperity is built on exploiting Monster remains, making Monster-hunting a central sect interest rather than merely a moral crusade.
• Su Ziji realizes that his connection to the Dragon Maiden could make him an enemy of the Yin Temple Sect and Liu Zhan. He resolves that he cannot allow them to kill her, though he does not yet understand the full purpose behind their plans.
• Jian Qu brings Su Ziji another essay for criticism. Su Ziji observes that Jian Qu’s writing still contains an ingrained resentful and vicious quality despite his efforts to change.
• Su Ziji begins explaining the root of Jian Qu’s problem: when people cannot achieve the Great Way in reality, they turn inward or upward in search of answers.
• Liu Zhan unexpectedly arrives and overhears Su Ziji’s explanation. Su Ziji summarizes the origins of major Confucian schools with the insight that, when the Great Way could not be realized outwardly, people sought it “in Heaven” or “in the heart.”
• This revelation profoundly shocks Liu Zhan, who sees it as a sweeping explanation of the historical development of Confucian thought.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes increasingly wary of the Yin Temple Sect. His knowledge of its dependence on Monster slaughter deepens his suspicion and strengthens his determination to protect the Dragon Maiden.
• He also demonstrates exceptional scholarly insight, reducing centuries of Confucian development to a single penetrating principle.
• Jian Qu remains devoted to improving himself under Su Ziji’s guidance. Though his writing problem is deeply rooted, he is encouraged by Su Ziji’s promise to identify its cause.
• Liu Zhan shifts from cautious curiosity to profound astonishment. He recognizes that Su Ziji’s understanding may surpass that of generations of scholars, leaving him humbled and envious of the young scholar’s talent.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge versus morality: The Yin Temple Sect’s Monster-hunting is revealed as driven by material and spiritual gain rather than pure justice, raising questions about whether righteous actions remain righteous when motivated by exploitation.
• Loyalty and moral conflict: Su Ziji’s relationship with the Dragon Maiden places him in opposition to a powerful sect whose interests may directly threaten someone he cares about.
• The limits of worldly ideals: The discussion of Confucianism suggests that when ideals cannot be realized in society, people seek answers in metaphysics, Heaven, or the human heart.
• Innate talent and intellectual disparity: Liu Zhan’s reaction highlights the vast gap between ordinary scholarship and Su Ziji’s ability to perceive the underlying structure of entire intellectual traditions.
• Self-examination: Jian Qu’s flawed writing mirrors the broader theme of searching inward to discover the root of one’s failures.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Jian Qu: Su Ziji acts as a mentor, reviewing Jian Qu’s essay and explaining the deeper reason behind his persistent style. Their exchange establishes a serious teacher-student relationship centered on intellectual and moral refinement.
• Su Ziji and Liu Zhan: Although they do not initially engage directly, Liu Zhan listens to Su Ziji’s instruction and is deeply affected by it. His admiration for Su Ziji is now mixed with caution and a sense of inferiority.
• Su Ziji and the Yin Temple Sect: Su Ziji’s thoughts reveal a growing ideological and personal conflict with the sect, particularly over its treatment of the Demon Race and its potential threat to the Dragon Maiden.

Chapter Summary: “Three Dumb Geese”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liu Zhan reflects on Su Ziji’s extraordinary intelligence and worries that, if Su were to cultivate the Daoist Arts, he could become a dangerous genius and a great calamity.
• Su Ziji offers Liu guidance about his philosophical path, explaining that Liu’s instinctive rejection of orthodox methods is itself part of his Dao. However, Su also warns that continuing along this path gives Liu little hope of becoming a Presented Scholar.
• Both Liu Zhan and Jian Qu are left deep in thought by Su’s remarks. Su gives his seat to Jian Qu so that he can immediately write down any inspiration, then withdraws to the side of the boat.
• Cen Rubai jokes with Su about making both men look like “dumb geese.” He refuses Su’s offer of a chess game, admitting that he habitually takes back moves and fears losing Su’s goodwill.
• Su observes that Cen’s apparent foolishness is probably a deliberate part of his cheerful personality, concluding that there are really “three dumb geese”: Liu, Jian, and Cen.
• Another boat arrives carrying Chu Gurong, who claims to be looking for Liu Zhan. After noticing Cen Rubai, Chu realizes he may be the missing aide once associated with the prince of Lin.
• Chu urges Su to surrender Cen, warning that Cen is wanted by powerful people and could bring trouble. Su refuses, emphasizing that Cen is his retainer and demanding official authority or documentation for the request.
• Chu has no legal warrant or official standing sufficient to compel Su. Su mocks him as an insignificant “stray cat or dog” attempting to take away his man, then orders Cen into the cabin and dismisses Chu.
• Humiliated and furious, Chu leaves without even meeting Liu Zhan, resolving the encounter with resentment toward Su.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates exceptional insight, both in Daoist philosophy and in judging people. He remains calm and intellectually confident, but becomes openly hostile when Chu threatens Cen. His status as the Top Scorer and a Subordinate Sixth Rank official gives him enough authority to resist Chu.
• Liu Zhan: Is forced to reconsider his unconventional path and its conflict with orthodox scholarship. Su’s assessment unsettles him, suggesting that his temperament and philosophy may prevent him from achieving the academic rank he seeks.
• Jian Qu: Takes Su’s criticism seriously and is given the space to record and develop his new understanding.
• Cen Rubai: Reveals his playful, self-deprecating nature. Despite appearing careless or foolish, he is perceptive and socially adaptable. Su’s defense of him confirms their growing patron-retainer relationship.
• Chu Gurong: Begins confident and courteous but misjudges Su’s position and authority. His failed attempt to seize Cen leaves him embarrassed, angry, and hostile.

Significant Themes

• Orthodoxy versus alternative paths: The discussion of Neo-Confucianism, the School of Mind, and Daoist cultivation explores the tension between accepted doctrine and unconventional searches for truth.
• The nature of genius: Su’s insight makes others question whether extraordinary comprehension is a blessing or a potential source of disaster.
• Authority and legitimacy: Su exposes the difference between informal influence and actual legal power, refusing to surrender Cen without official documentation.
• Loyalty and protection: Su treats Cen as his own retainer and protects him despite the political danger of doing so.
• Humor amid tension: The “three dumb geese” joke offsets the philosophical and political conflict, highlighting Cen’s ability to find amusement in difficult circumstances.

Character Interactions

• Su challenges Liu’s worldview and indirectly influences both Liu and Jian’s intellectual development.
• Su and Cen exchange teasing remarks, establishing familiarity and mutual comfort.
• Chu attempts to pressure Su into giving up Cen, but Su turns the encounter around by questioning Chu’s authority and humiliating him.
• Su’s firm defense of Cen marks a clear contrast between his own loyalty and Chu’s opportunistic attempt to exploit Cen’s vulnerable position.

Key plot points and events

• Uneasy after sensing hostility, Su Ziji slips off his official vessel and secretly boards the ship behind it, where he overhears a plot against him.
• Chu Gurong and Eunuch Luo discuss Prince Qi’s interests and believe Su Ziji may possess information about the Kingdom of Lin’s covert network. They plan an ambush in Mingde Prefecture to capture and interrogate him rather than kill him outright.
• When the ambush might fail, Chu proposes spreading false rumors that Su Ziji and Princess Xinping had an improper relationship. Because Su’s identity makes any stain especially damaging, the scandal could ruin his chance of returning to the imperial genealogy.
• Su learns that Princess Xinping had watched his departure from the docks, though he dismisses the conspirators’ interpretation as romantic.
• The plot also targets Su’s new post: he has been appointed acting prefectural deputy of Shunan, where a 700,000-tael treasury deficit could make him a convenient scapegoat and damage the emperor’s trust in him.
• Realizing the scheme is linked to Prince Qi, Su understands that a direct confrontation may be unavoidable.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ziji shows growing vigilance and resourcefulness, using his Daoist arts and martial skills to eavesdrop undetected. He moves from unease to recognizing the scale of the danger.
• Chu Gurong emerges as a calculating strategist, proposing both a physical ambush and a reputational attack.
• Eunuch Luo supports Chu’s plans and reveals that he personally saw Princess Xinping at the docks.
• Princess Xinping, though absent, becomes a target of the scheme because of her visit; the conspirators mistake her actions for evidence of intimacy with Su.
• Su’s overhearing of Chu and Luo exposes Prince Qi’s faction’s coordinated effort to undermine him through violence, scandal, and a dangerous appointment.

Significant themes

• Political intrigue and factional power: rival princes and their agents use multiple channels to remove perceived obstacles.
• Reputation as a weapon: fabricated rumors can be effective even without proof, especially when a person’s status leaves little room for scandal.
• Entrapment through official duty: a seemingly prestigious appointment can conceal financial liabilities designed to ruin its holder.
• Surveillance and foresight: Su’s intuition and ability to gather intelligence give him an early warning, but the threats he discovers are extensive.

Chapter Summary: “This Man Must Not Be Kept Alive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji overhears Chu Gurong and his allies plotting against him. He realizes that his assignment away from the capital was likely arranged by the Emperor as a test of his abilities, with Prince Qi’s faction deliberately placed in his path.
• The conspirators plan to exploit Cen Rubai, a former retainer of the Kingdom of Lin’s prince and a valuable source of information. They intend to spread news about him among provincial and commandery officials until an official arrest warrant is issued.
• Their scheme is designed to force Su Ziji into a dilemma:
  • If he refuses to surrender Cen Rubai, he can be accused of defying official orders and punished.
  • If he hands Cen Rubai over, he will lose the loyalty and trust of his retainers.
• Su Ziji recognizes the plan as an attempt to destroy both his reputation and political influence. He concludes that Chu Gurong is too dangerous to leave alive.
• When Chu Gurong later steps onto the deck of the boat, Su Ziji manipulates the situation so that one of Chu Gurong’s servants suddenly becomes overwhelmed by resentment and pushes him into the river.
• Although Chu Gurong initially expects to survive because he can swim, Su Ziji secretly seizes his ankle underwater and drags him toward the riverbed.
• Su Ziji reveals himself, coldly stating that he is repaying Chu Gurong for the “kindness” shown toward him. Chu Gurong recognizes him just before drowning.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes more decisive and ruthless. Rather than merely defending himself politically, he accepts the necessity of eliminating a dangerous enemy. His patience, strategic thinking, and ability to exploit others’ emotions are emphasized.
• Chu Gurong: Is revealed as cruel, ambitious, and politically calculating. His confidence collapses into panic and despair when he becomes physically powerless. His mistreatment of his servants ultimately contributes to his downfall.
• Chu Gurong’s servants: Their suppressed resentment toward him suddenly surfaces. One impulsively attacks him, while the others flee in fear. Their reaction demonstrates how cruelty has eroded Chu Gurong’s loyalty and authority.
• The Emperor and Prince Qi: Though they do not appear directly, their political influence shapes the chapter. The Emperor may be testing Su Ziji, while Prince Qi’s faction is actively seeking ways to weaken him.

Significant Themes

• Political intrigue and manipulation: The plot against Su Ziji relies on legal procedures, official authority, and attacks on reputation rather than direct violence alone.
• Power and loyalty: Chu Gurong’s servants obey him outwardly but secretly resent him. His abuse has created obedience without genuine loyalty.
• Justice and revenge: Su Ziji frames Chu Gurong’s death as repayment for his schemes, but his actions also show how political survival can require morally severe choices.
• Appearances versus reality: What appears to be an accidental act of rage is actually engineered by Su Ziji, while the supposedly secure political plan collapses because of hidden resentment.
• Isolation and helplessness: Chu Gurong’s descent into the dark river mirrors his loss of political control. Once stripped of power, he becomes completely vulnerable.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji secretly listens to Chu Gurong’s advisers and learns the full extent of the plot against him.
• Chu Gurong’s hostile plans toward Su Ziji contrast with Su Ziji’s calm, calculated response.
• Chu Gurong’s abusive relationship with his servants causes them to turn against him.
• Su Ziji confronts Chu Gurong only at the moment of death, transforming the drowning into a personal act of vengeance and ensuring that Chu Gurong understands who killed him.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

After killing Chu Gurong, Su Ziji watches the corpse sink beneath the water and secretly swims back to his ship. He dries himself with spiritual power and returns to his cabin, where he discovers that the large Fox and Little Fox have secretly followed him from the Capital City. Rather than send them away again, he accepts that they will likely continue following him and decides to keep them hidden aboard the ship. He feeds them chicken legs and orders them to remain in his cabin and avoid the other passengers. The Foxes soon begin squabbling and fighting playfully, interrupting Su Ziji’s rest.
Su Ziji is then summoned by Luo Pei for questioning because Chu Gurong, an important retainer of Prince Qi, has drowned after previously having a dispute with him. Su Ziji travels to the ship where the death occurred and finds Chu Gurong’s corpse surrounded by guards. Although he knows he personally killed Chu, he calmly presents himself for questioning.

Character developments

Su Ziji demonstrates composure, resourcefulness, and practical judgment. He conceals his involvement in Chu Gurong’s death, handles the unexpected Foxes with reluctant patience, and shows a softer side by feeding and protecting them despite their disobedience. His relationship with the Foxes becomes more familial and exasperated, particularly as he treats both equally rather than showing special affection toward Little Fox.
The two Foxes are revealed to be intelligent, mischievous, and capable of humanlike emotions and intentions. The larger Fox acts as a scolding elder, while Little Fox reacts proudly and defensively to being treated merely as an animal. Luo Pei appears politically cautious and outwardly stern, though inwardly more concerned with the diplomatic consequences of the death than with justice itself.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes concealment and deception: Su Ziji hides both his wet return and his responsibility for the murder, while the Foxes conceal themselves aboard the ship. It also explores loyalty and attachment, shown through the Foxes’ determination to follow Su Ziji and his inability to abandon them. Political intrigue is increasingly important, as Chu Gurong’s death threatens the fragile, outwardly peaceful relationship between Prince Shu and Prince Qi. The contrast between amusing domestic disorder and serious political danger creates a shift from lightheartedness to tension.

Character interactions

Su Ziji reprimands the Foxes for secretly following him, but their hunger and pitiful behavior quickly disarm him. The Foxes’ playful fight exposes their contrasting personalities and their argument over Little Fox’s possible identity as a future human “lady.” A guard formally summons Su Ziji on Luo Pei’s orders, and Su cooperates without showing anxiety. At the crime scene, Luo Pei and his guards treat the drowning as a politically sensitive incident, while Su Ziji silently confronts the corpse of the man he killed and prepares to face suspicion.

Summary: “Hatred Etched into the Bone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chu Gurong is found dead after falling from a ship. The evidence initially appears to indicate that a servant pushed him into the water, making it seem like a straightforward murder.
• Eunuch Luo Ji, Chu’s companion and Prince Qi’s subordinate, reacts hysterically to the death. He repeatedly insists that the situation is “impossible,” knowing that Chu had been the mastermind behind the failed scheme against the Dragon Maiden.
• Fearing Prince Qi’s punishment and unable to explain the disastrous outcome, Luo Ji looks for someone else to blame. When Su Ziji arrives, Luo Ji accuses him of murdering Chu out of revenge for their earlier conflict.
• Imperial Envoy Luo Pei rejects the accusation. He points out that Su Ziji is a highly ranked imperial official and cannot be arrested based solely on a eunuch’s unsupported claims.
• Liu Zhan, who witnessed the servant being pulled from the water, also senses that the apparent confession does not fully explain the incident. He detects a faint fox-like scent and suspects that the Demon Race may have been involved.
• Luo Pei publicly defends Su Ziji, condemns Luo Ji’s accusations as the ravings of a desperate “mad dog,” and orders that Luo Ji be removed. Chu’s corpse is to be preserved for an autopsy after the ships reach shore.
• As he is dragged away, Luo Ji threatens Luo Pei and begins to hate him as well.

Character Developments

• Luo Ji: His grief, fear, and loyalty to Prince Qi push him into panic and irrational behavior. He knows Chu was indispensable to the mission and fears being blamed for its failure. His desperate attempt to accuse Su Ziji reveals both his narrow-mindedness and his willingness to sacrifice others to protect himself.
• Su Ziji: He maintains a controlled exterior while pretending to be offended by the accusation. Although Luo Ji accidentally identifies the truth—that Su Ziji was responsible for Chu’s death—Su avoids suspicion because of his official rank and carefully managed behavior.
• Luo Pei: He demonstrates loyalty to imperial authority and a strong sense of procedure. He protects Su Ziji from an unjust arrest and treats Luo Ji’s accusations as malicious slander, though he does not realize that Luo Ji has inadvertently pointed toward the real culprit.
• Liu Zhan: His suspicions show perceptiveness and developing insight. Rather than accepting the apparent murder at face value, he notices inconsistencies and detects a fox-like scent, suggesting supernatural or Demon Race involvement.
• Chu Gurong: Though dead, Chu’s importance becomes clearer. He was the true strategist behind the plot against the Dragon Maiden, and his sudden death leaves Luo Ji without guidance or a way to explain the failed mission.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and scapegoating: Luo Ji’s fear of punishment causes him to accuse an innocent-seeming target rather than confront the truth.
• Appearance versus reality: The obvious murderer may not be the true culprit, and Luo Ji’s wild accusation happens to contain an element of truth.
• Power and official status: Su Ziji is protected not by the facts of the case but by his prestigious imperial position, demonstrating how hierarchy shapes justice.
• Loyalty and fear: Luo Ji’s loyalty to Prince Qi is mixed with terror of his master’s punishment, turning devotion into frantic self-preservation.
• Supernatural interference: Liu Zhan’s discovery of the fox scent introduces the possibility that Chu’s death involves the Demon Race rather than an ordinary human murder.
• Hatred and resentment: Luo Ji’s anger shifts from Su Ziji to Luo Pei when his accusations are rejected, emphasizing how hatred spreads when blame cannot be safely directed at the true cause.

Character Interactions

• Luo Pei questions Luo Ji and attempts to make him acknowledge the apparent evidence.
• Luo Ji directs his anger and suspicion toward Su Ziji, accusing him publicly of murder.
• Luo Pei firmly confronts Luo Ji, defending Su Ziji’s authority and threatening consequences for continued slander.
• Su Ziji presents himself as offended and wronged, earning Luo Pei’s sympathy while concealing his possible involvement.
• Liu Zhan observes both the corpse and the surrounding circumstances, privately questioning the official explanation and considering whether Su Ziji was falsely accused.
• Luo Pei ultimately orders Luo Ji removed, deepening Luo Ji’s hatred toward him.

Chapter Summary: “Petty Men”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After confronting Luo Pei, the imperial envoy representing Prince Qi, Su Ziji returns to his ship amused by the eunuch’s arrogance but quickly becomes serious about the danger he represents.
• Su reflects on the principle of “drawing close to gentlemen and keeping petty men at a distance.” He concludes that the issue is not merely whether petty people are personally useful, but how placing impulsive, vengeful, and narrow-minded people in positions of power can damage the court and bring disaster to countless families.
• Cen Rubai, having realized that his identity has likely been exposed, apologizes to Su Ziji and prepares to leave so that he will not endanger his protector.
• Su refuses to let Cen depart. He argues that the official ship is currently the safest place for him and that abandoning someone under his protection would be unworthy of a true official. Cen is moved and agrees to remain, promising never to forget Su’s kindness.
• Su privately recognizes that Cen does not yet regard himself as a fully devoted vassal; he still addresses Su formally as “Young Master” or “My Lord.”
• Jian Qu praises Su as an unusually good master for protecting Cen, an unproven retainer who was formerly connected to Lin Yuqing. Su downplays his virtue, acknowledging that his decision also serves practical and political interests.
• Back in Su’s cabin, Su and Jian Qu discuss the dead man’s connection to Prince Qi and the likelihood that the journey to Shunan Prefecture will be dangerous.
• Su assigns Jian Qu an important task: he must return to the Capital City. Su explains that Jian Qu can help more by completing this mission than by remaining aboard the ship. The chapter ends as Su hands him written instructions.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political insight, strategic thinking, and a strong sense of responsibility toward those under his protection. Although he appears compassionate, he remains realistic about the mixture of morality, power, and self-interest behind his decisions. He also shows confidence in delegating Jian Qu away from him.
• Cen Rubai: Moves from uneasy dependence to genuine gratitude and tentative loyalty. His willingness to leave reflects his concern for Su’s safety, while his decision to stay shows that Su’s protection has begun to earn his trust.
• Jian Qu: Reveals admiration for Su and a desire to serve him wholeheartedly. His praise also exposes his idealistic hope for a trustworthy lord. Despite his concern about leaving Su, he accepts the importance of his assignment.
• Luo Pei and Prince Qi: Luo Pei’s threatening behavior reinforces Prince Qi’s dangerous influence. Though Luo Pei is portrayed as crude and impulsive, his authority makes him a serious threat.

Significant Themes

• The danger of petty officials: Narrow-minded, vengeful people with power can cause enormous harm even when they are loyal to their ruler.
• Leadership and responsibility: A true leader protects those under his authority instead of sacrificing them merely for convenience or gain.
• Loyalty and trust: Cen’s loyalty is not yet fully established, but Su’s actions create the foundation for it. The chapter explores whether loyalty must be earned before protection is offered.
• Pragmatism versus idealism: Su’s conduct appears noble to Jian Qu, but Su admits that his choices also reflect practical interests. Different characters interpret the same actions according to their own hopes and experiences.
• Human diversity and political usefulness: Su accepts that different kinds of people have different strengths and uses. He does not require everyone under him to think or behave alike.
• The risks of political association: Cen’s connection to Lin Yuqing and the dead man’s connection to Prince Qi show how alliances and identities can endanger entire households.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Luo Pei: Their earlier confrontation establishes the conflict between Su’s composed authority and Luo Pei’s reckless arrogance.
• Su Ziji and Cen Rubai: Cen apologizes and offers to leave, but Su firmly protects him and insists that staying aboard the ship is safest. Their relationship shifts toward mutual trust.
• Su Ziji and Jian Qu: Jian admires Su’s leadership, while Su responds with modesty and realism. Their discussion reveals Jian’s idealism and Su’s more strategic worldview.
• Su Ziji and the hidden “Foxes”: Su notices that two hidden people in his cabin have fallen asleep, though they do not directly participate in the chapter’s main conversation.
• Su Ziji and Jian Qu at the conclusion: Su entrusts Jian with a confidential mission in the Capital City, demonstrating both his reliance on Jian and his broader strategic preparations.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji gives Jian Qu a carefully prepared list of dates, places, names, and fabricated rumors. He orders Jian to memorize it, burn it, and secretly spread the rumors throughout the Capital City.
• The rumors target several prominent figures, especially Su Ziji and Prince Qi, and include scandalous stories about romantic affairs, courtesans, poetry exchanges, palace intrigues, and noblemen’s amorous escapades. Some are based on real gossip but have been altered or given false continuations.
• Jian Qu is initially alarmed that the material damages Su Ziji’s own reputation, but Su explains that Prince Qi’s faction intends to smear him with similar rumors. By spreading many rumors first, including obvious falsehoods and later “reversals,” Su hopes to make the public view future accusations as jealousy-driven slander.
• Su calls this strategy striking first: overwhelm the public with scattered scandals, make them lose their novelty, and establish a favorable first impression before the enemy can act.
• Jian Qu accepts the assignment, memorizes the information, burns the original document, and prepares to return to the Capital City at daybreak.
• Su later finds the large and small Foxes sleeping peacefully together after having fought earlier. Although he intended to question them, he leaves them undisturbed.
• Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Capital City, the Heavenly Secret Monster lives secretly with other Monsters in a seemingly ordinary residence. The house has been constructed according to a formation that suppresses and conceals their Monster aura from nearby alchemists.
• During the night, a thread of black qi enters the Heavenly Secret Monster’s body. It experiences terrible pain, unleashes Monster qi, and damages the protective barrier around the residence.
• The Monster realizes that something has happened to its avatar and that the barrier’s failure will expose them. It orders its subordinate to prepare an ox cart and flee immediately without taking valuables.
• Before they can escape, the Heavenly Secret Monster suffers severe backlash: black blood pours from its seven apertures as it realizes its avatar has been destroyed.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji is shown to be highly strategic and proactive. Rather than defensively denying rumors, he plans to control public perception by manufacturing a larger, more confusing wave of gossip.
• Jian Qu develops from hesitant and morally uneasy to fully convinced of Su Ziji’s plan. He recognizes both its importance and the danger of carrying it out incorrectly.
• The Heavenly Secret Monster is revealed to be vulnerable despite its power. Its connection to an avatar causes it intense physical pain when the avatar is destroyed, and its impulsive reaction compromises its carefully hidden refuge.
• The Foxes appear to have reconciled after their earlier fight, suggesting a playful but affectionate relationship.

Significant Themes

• Information warfare and public perception: Rumors gain power through apparent truth, repetition, and timing. Su Ziji seeks to defeat slander by shaping the narrative before his enemies do.
• Preemptive strategy: The chapter emphasizes “striking first to gain the upper hand,” turning an enemy’s intended weapon into something less effective.
• Truth and fabrication: Real gossip, invented stories, and altered facts are deliberately mixed, showing how difficult it is for the public to distinguish truth from falsehood.
• Secrecy and concealment: Both Su Ziji and the Heavenly Secret Monster rely on hidden plans, secret networks, and controlled information.
• Backlash and consequences: The destruction of the avatar immediately harms the Heavenly Secret Monster, demonstrating that concealed power and supernatural connections carry risks.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji explains his rumor strategy to Jian Qu, persuading him that the apparent self-defamation is actually a defensive maneuver.
• Jian Qu responds with loyalty, promising to carry the information to the Capital City and protect the plan from failure.
• Su encounters the two Foxes sleeping together after their fight but chooses not to disturb them.
• The Heavenly Secret Monster commands its subordinate to abandon the residence and flee by ox cart. The subordinate obeys, though the Monster’s sudden backlash interrupts their escape.
• The chapter also establishes an unseen conflict between Su Ziji’s faction and Prince Qi’s forces, as well as a broader danger from the alchemists searching for Monsters.

Chapter Summary: “Incarnation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Heavenly Secret Monster leaves its residence during a thunderstorm, traveling by ox-cart while trying to avoid attention.
• During the journey, a violent spiritual backlash erupts within it, forcing it to endure a flood of memories and emotions connected to Chu Gurong’s death.
• The Monster embraces these memories rather than resisting them, completing the fusion of its incarnation with Chu Gurong’s remnant soul.
• Its masked form is destroyed, revealing a face identical to the deceased Chu Gurong’s, though paler and marked by eerie green eyes.
• The Monster explains that it had planted a fragment of its Primordial Spirit in Chu Gurong when he was an infant, then severed the connection until Chu Gurong’s death. By reclaiming the remnant soul, it gains power equivalent to ten years of cultivation.
• Chu Gurong’s violent death contaminates the Monster’s soul with hatred, resentment, and murderous karma. This contamination can only be erased through revenge or decades of purification.
• From Chu Gurong’s memories, the Monster concludes that Su Ziji was likely responsible for the killing, possibly with the assistance of a mysterious Fox associated with him.
• Unable or unwilling to attack Su Ziji directly, the Monster decides to target his followers and allies instead. It claims to have already established influential connections with Prince Qi and Cao Yiyan, the former dynasty’s Crown Prince, whom it intends to use as weapons.
• Meanwhile, Yu Qianzhi senses that the Heavenly Secret has undergone another major change. He worries that if the changes continue, Daoists will lose their ability to calculate or rely upon heavenly revelations.

Character Developments

• The Heavenly Secret Monster: Completes its incarnation as Chu Gurong and becomes more powerful, but also suffers spiritual contamination from Chu Gurong’s death. Its formerly detached, calculating mindset becomes increasingly colored by anger and vengeance before it forcibly regains control.
• Chu Gurong: Though dead, his memories, emotions, and resentment continue to influence the Monster. His identity becomes partially integrated into the Monster, leading it to declare that Chu Gurong is effectively another version of itself.
• Su Ziji: Remains offstage but is presented as increasingly formidable. His Crown Prince Bloodline and growing noble fate make him too dangerous for the Monster to confront directly.
• Yu Qianzhi: Recognizes the broader consequences of the Heavenly Secret’s instability and fears the collapse of Daoist authority and influence.
• The mysterious Fox: Is revealed to be connected to Su Ziji and possibly to the Green Hill faction, suggesting larger political and supernatural alliances.

Significant Themes

• Identity and incarnation: The Monster’s use of Chu Gurong raises questions about whether the resulting being is still the Monster, Chu Gurong, or a dangerous fusion of both.
• Spiritual contamination: Taking on another person’s memories and emotions grants power but risks eroding the self and corrupting the soul.
• Revenge as purification: The Monster’s hatred is not merely emotional; revenge becomes a necessary means of cleansing the karmic pollution caused by Chu Gurong’s violent death.
• Political manipulation: Rather than confronting powerful figures openly, the Monster plans to influence rulers, allies, and followers, using them as indirect weapons.
• The limits of heavenly knowledge: The changing Heavenly Secret threatens the Daoists’ ability to foresee events, calculate fate, and maintain their supernatural authority.
• Power and hidden alliances: Su Ziji’s bloodline, the Fox, Green Hill, Prince Qi, and the former dynasty’s Crown Prince all hint at a wider struggle over the future Dragon Court.

Character Interactions

• The Monster interacts with its subordinate driver, who notices its unusual hatred of water but is too intimidated to question it directly.
• Through the recovered memories, the Monster mentally confronts Su Ziji and attempts to understand why Chu Gurong was killed.
• It identifies a possible connection between Su Ziji and the Fox that accompanied Chu Gurong’s death.
• The Monster refers to Prince Qi and Cao Yiyan as figures it has cultivated or influenced, intending to turn them against Su Ziji’s supporters.
• Yu Qianzhi reacts to the Monster’s transformation indirectly, sensing the disturbance in the Heavenly Secret and recognizing its danger to the Daoist world.

Chapter Summary: “An Autumn of Troubles”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With Su Ziji away, Ye Buhui keeps the Su Residence closed to unfamiliar visitors and spends most of her time studying chess.
• She regularly invites Zhou Yao to visit, while Du Chenglin also comes by. Zhou plays the qin as Ye plays chess, demonstrating that close companionship does not require shared interests.
• Ye discovers that both foxes have disappeared, apparently following Su Ziji onto the ship at the docks. She jokingly resolves to punish Little White when they return.
• During a chess game, Ye performs poorly and worries that her skill is declining because she is too focused on winning.
• Du Chenglin explains that she has reached a bottleneck rather than truly regressed. Breaking through it could elevate her to the level of a first-rate player and allow her to contend for the title of Chess Sage, though such breakthroughs are unpredictable.
• A powerful demon aura suddenly erupts somewhere in the Capital City. Du Chenglin immediately senses it and expects the city’s alchemists to investigate.
• The mysterious voice within Zhou Yao urges her to leave and investigate the disturbance. She excuses herself from Ye and departs.
• Du Chenglin watches Zhou Yao suspiciously, sensing that something about her is abnormal despite detecting no demon aura. He concludes that the Heavenly Secret has become increasingly unclear and that the world has entered an “autumn of troubles.”

Character Developments

• Ye Buhui: Shows loneliness and anxiety over Su Ziji’s absence, but finds comfort in her friendship with Zhou Yao. Her frustration over her chess stagnation reveals her ambition and insecurity; Du Chenglin’s explanation gives her a more hopeful perspective.
• Zhou Yao: Remains burdened by guilt over involving Su Ziji and Ye Buhui in danger connected to the Demon Race. Though she initially resists visiting Ye, she continues to obey the mysterious voice. Her ability to display anger toward it suggests that she is gradually recovering emotionally from her grief over Shao Sisen.
• Du Chenglin: Acts as Ye’s mentor and offers practical, skeptical advice about chess and martial “realms.” His keen awareness of demonic activity and suspicion of Zhou Yao emphasize his experience and vigilance.
• The mysterious voice: Continues manipulating Zhou Yao but now recognizes signs of her emotional recovery and briefly stops mocking her. Its interest in the demon disturbance reinforces its connection to the Demon Race.
• Su Ziji and the foxes: Though absent, Su Ziji remains central to Ye’s thoughts, while the foxes’ disappearance suggests they may become involved in his journey.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and companionship: Ye and Zhou’s different interests do not prevent intimacy; they provide comfort simply by sharing space.
• Growth through stagnation: Ye’s apparent decline in chess is reframed as a necessary bottleneck before a possible breakthrough.
• Guilt and emotional healing: Zhou struggles with responsibility for the dangers facing Su Ziji and Ye, yet her growing ability to resist or express anger toward the mysterious voice marks gradual healing.
• Hidden danger and looming crisis: The sudden demon aura and Du Chenglin’s comments suggest that larger supernatural conflicts are approaching.
• Skepticism versus mystical rhetoric: Du rejects vague claims about transcendent “realms,” favoring concrete skill and practical results.

Character Interactions

• Ye and Zhou maintain a warm friendship despite their contrasting personalities and talents: Ye focuses on chess, while Zhou plays the qin.
• Du plays chess with Ye and reassures her about her stalled progress, taking on a supportive mentor role.
• Zhou silently listens to their conversation while privately wrestling with guilt and the mysterious voice’s criticism.
• The mysterious voice directs Zhou’s actions, while Zhou’s subdued anger briefly challenges its control.
• Du and Zhou do not openly confront one another, but his suspicion of her and her secret connection to the demon disturbance create an important undercurrent of tension.

Plot points and events

• As Zhou Yao rides away from Peach Blossom Alley, the mysterious voice in her mind speculates that the Chess Sage, Du Chenglin, is a Tree Demon. It wonders how he concealed his nature from human Daoists and the Dragon Aura, and suspects a tacit arrangement or even betrayal. The voice also recognizes a familiar demonic aura. Zhou Yao privately hopes Du Chenglin will not harm Ye Buhui.
• At Prince Qi’s residence, Prince Qi visits the rear courtyard while his consorts and concubines gather for morning greetings. He asks after their children but shows little interest in the women themselves.
• His mood changes when his five-year-old legitimate son, Little Tiger, arrives. Prince Qi warmly embraces him and promises to take him to a nearby estate.
• The princess consort arrives and tells Prince Qi that she visited his mother, Consort Wen, in the palace. Consort Wen is well and advises him not to worry about being unable to visit; the situation may improve.
• A messenger then whispers news to Prince Qi: the Demon Race wants to meet him unexpectedly. Surprised and suspicious, he grows guarded.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhou Yao remains outwardly composed, while the voice in her mind supplies unsettling information. She is concerned about Ye Buhui’s safety but can only speculate.
• Prince Qi is cold and dismissive toward his secondary consorts and concubines, yet affectionate with his legitimate son and considerate toward his formally married wife. The unexpected demonic summons immediately makes him wary.
• The princess consort demonstrates tact and loyalty by visiting Consort Wen despite the tense palace atmosphere, giving Prince Qi reassurance and information.
• Little Tiger is lively and openly affectionate with his father; their reunion reveals Prince Qi’s softer side.
• The secondary consorts’ quiet envy highlights the princess consort’s distinct status and the limits of favor within the household.

Significant themes

• Hidden identities and uncertain loyalties: Du Chenglin’s suspected demonic nature and the voice’s uncertainty raise questions about allegiance and secrecy.
• Status and hierarchy: The contrast between the princess consort and the secondary consorts shows how formal rank shapes intimacy, respect, and influence.
• Family affection amid political tension: Prince Qi’s warmth toward his wife and son contrasts with the strained palace climate and his dealings with the Demon Race.

Chapter Summary: “Superiors”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Qi is summoned by an urgent matter and abruptly leaves the rear courtyard, instructing his eunuch to prepare the secret passage. He places his young son back in the Princess Consort’s arms before departing.
• The child complains that his father has not asked about his lessons. The Princess Consort reassures him that Prince Qi is merely busy and encourages him to study diligently.
• After dismissing the secondary consorts and concubines, the Princess Consort reflects on her marriage. Though she accepts that Prince Qi has other women, she feels lonely because his political duties and dangerous sleep disorder prevent them from sharing a bed or spending much time together.
• On an official ship, Eunuch Luo Ji remains furious after Luo Pei forced him to leave the capital. He blames Luo Pei for humiliating him and vows revenge once Prince Qi gains the throne.
• Luo Ji gathers key members of Prince Qi’s faction to determine how to proceed with their mission, now that Mr. Chu is gone. The group is reluctant to advise him because the operation has become dangerous and uncertain.
• A guard suggests reporting the changed circumstances to Prince Qi and asking whether the planned interception and assassination should continue. Enraged, Luo Ji slaps him and accuses him of cowardice and defiance.
• When Xun Sichen cautiously points out that Luo Ji may be unable to justify the operation if it fails, Luo Ji retaliates by ordering him to lead a small group in assassinating Su Ziji. Xun Sichen recognizes that the assignment is likely suicidal but is forced to obey.
• Two white foxes secretly eavesdrop on the discussion from the cabin roof. They return to Su Ziji’s ship to report what they have learned, moving so swiftly that the soldiers mistake their presence for an apparition.

Character Developments

• Prince Qi is shown as increasingly preoccupied with urgent political affairs. His hurried departure reinforces his emotional and physical distance from the Princess Consort and child.
• The Princess Consort remains composed and practical, but her private loneliness and disappointment become clear. She does not resent her husband’s other women as much as she resents his lack of time and intimacy with her.
• Prince Qi’s son is affectionate and eager for his father’s approval, especially regarding his early education.
• Luo Ji is revealed as vindictive, prideful, and insecure. His anger at Luo Pei and his tendency to punish subordinates prevent him from responding rationally to the failed or compromised plan.
• Xun Sichen shows sound judgment by advising caution, but his honesty makes him a target. Though furious and aware that the mission may kill him, he submits because of the rigid power hierarchy.
• The faction’s officials and guards become increasingly fearful and passive, unwilling to challenge Luo Ji even when they recognize that his decisions are reckless.
• The white foxes function as capable, covert observers and allies of Su Ziji, gathering critical intelligence without being detected.

Significant Themes

• The dangers of incompetent authority: Luo Ji’s position allows him to endanger capable subordinates despite his poor judgment.
• Power and obedience: Lower-ranking officials must obey orders even when they know those orders are irrational or fatal.
• Political intrigue and hidden surveillance: Secret passages, assassination plans, coded loyalties, and the foxes’ eavesdropping emphasize the concealed nature of the political struggle.
• Isolation within relationships: The Princess Consort’s loneliness shows that privilege and status do not guarantee emotional closeness.
• Fear and self-preservation: The officials suppress their opinions to avoid becoming scapegoats, while Luo Ji’s desire to preserve his authority worsens the crisis.
• Superficial strength versus inner vulnerability: Luo Ji behaves aggressively to maintain control, but his rage and defensiveness reveal insecurity and dependence on the authority of others.

Character Interactions

• Prince Qi and the Princess Consort: Their exchange is formal and brief, reflecting a marriage that is outwardly stable but emotionally distant.
• The Princess Consort and her son: She comforts him tenderly and turns his disappointment into motivation to study.
• Luo Ji and the faction officials: He pressures them for solutions, intimidates them, and lashes out when they offer cautious advice.
• Luo Ji and the guard: The guard’s reasonable suggestion is met with a humiliating slap, establishing Luo Ji’s abusive leadership style.
• Luo Ji and Xun Sichen: Xun Sichen challenges Luo Ji indirectly, after which Luo Ji vindictively forces him into the assassination mission.
• The white foxes and Su Ziji’s forces: The foxes secretly obtain information from the enemy and return to Su Ziji’s ship, implying that the assassination threat will soon be known.

Key events

• The two foxes use dictionaries to explain what happened aboard Eunuch Luo Ji’s ship. Su Ziji learns that Luo ignored his guards’ advice, divided his forces, and sent them into a disastrous attack. He criticizes Luo’s incompetence and laments that capable soldiers can be doomed by foolish commanders.
• Su offers the foxes chicken legs as thanks. Their cooperation quickly gives way to another squabble, which he leaves them to settle.
• After the rain clears, the ship docks to replenish supplies and deal with a death. Jian Qu prepares to leave for the capital, and Cen Rubai gives him a letter of introduction to his friend, the swordsman One Sword, Spring Chill, in case he needs help.
• Su then heads toward the imperial envoy’s ship to speak with Lords Luo and Liu and build goodwill. He encourages Cen to accompany him openly as his retainer.
• While they walk, Su asks Cen about the guards assigned to princes’ residences. Cen explains their numbers, duties, ranks, and how their appointments are controlled.

Character developments and interactions

• Su Ziji shows sympathy for the soldiers killed by incompetent leadership, though he acknowledges that he may later send people to their deaths himself. He also acts strategically, cultivating connections and learning about the military system.
• The foxes demonstrate that they can cooperate and communicate effectively through books, but their rivalry—and Big Fox’s appetite—soon brings them back to fighting.
• Cen Rubai is cautious about appearing alongside Su, but accepts Su’s reassurance and follows his lead. His letter also reveals a connection to a refined, scholarly swordsman.
• Jian Qu receives Cen’s offer of assistance and departs with the letter.

Significant themes

• Military incompetence and fate: Good soldiers may be wasted by bad commanders, while even brilliant people can be destroyed before they have a chance to succeed.
• Loyalty and power: Soldiers may be unable to resist destructive orders, and control over military appointments helps determine who can command them.
• Networks and patronage: Su and Cen use personal connections and official goodwill to prepare for future difficulties.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At night on the outskirts of the capital, a highly disciplined force of thirty-six black-clad fighters attacks a courtyard occupied by jianghu martial artists.
• The attackers use coordinated saber formations and synchronized archery, overwhelming the loosely organized martial artists despite the latter’s individual skill.
• A powerful expert named Brother Cao is killed after his lone assault is countered by the formation, demonstrating the superiority of teamwork over individual strength.
• Zeng Nianzhen, one of the jianghu leaders, is wounded and surrounded. Realizing that remaining together will lead to total destruction, he orders everyone to scatter. He escapes by exploiting the formation’s weakness, though most of his companions are killed.
• The attacking force is revealed to be the Great Wei Martial Corps, an elite military organization whose soldiers can be trained far more cheaply and quickly than first-rate martial artists.
• From a nearby slope, Cao Yiyan observes the battle with representatives of the surviving Great Wei Dynasty. He refuses to pursue the fleeing survivors.
• Cao Yiyan learns that the Kingdom of Ying is secretly controlled by loyal Wei remnants. It was established under orders from the late Jingwu Emperor as a hidden base intended to preserve the dynasty and eventually restore Great Wei.
• The Wei loyalists explain that they entered the capital in small groups disguised as merchants and came to meet Cao Yiyan after sensing that he had inherited or awakened Great Wei’s Mandate.
• Just as Cao Yiyan begins considering how the Kingdom of Ying maintained its loyalty for forty years, a messenger reports that an ox cart has arrived carrying someone who insists on meeting him.
• Cao Yiyan recognizes the visitor as the Heavenly Secret Monster and goes to meet it, suspecting that some unexpected development has occurred.

Character Developments

• Zeng Nianzhen is shown to be a formidable but pragmatic martial artist. Although reluctant to abandon his comrades, he recognizes that his attachment is endangering everyone and decisively orders a retreat.
• Cao Yiyan demonstrates growing confidence and political authority. His possession of the Great Wei Mandate has improved his fortune and attracted hidden Wei loyalists to him.
• Cao also reveals strategic maturity: he understands both the economic advantages of mass-producing Martial Corps soldiers and the danger posed by expert assassins and guerrilla fighters.
• The unnamed Wei commander emerges as a strong advocate of organized military power, arguing that disciplined formations make individual jianghu experts inefficient and vulnerable.
• The Heavenly Secret Monster becomes a mysterious returning presence whose sudden visit hints at an important change or new threat.

Significant Themes

• Collective discipline versus individual prowess: The coordinated Martial Corps easily defeats stronger individual fighters, showing the military advantage of organization and formation tactics.
• State power versus the jianghu: The chapter portrays wandering martial artists as fragmented and ineffective against a centralized government force.
• Efficiency and expendability: Great Wei values soldiers who can be trained quickly and replaced easily, contrasting them with expensive experts who possess only one life.
• Hidden loyalties and political restoration: The Kingdom of Ying’s secret allegiance reveals that dynastic loyalty can survive through deception, patience, and covert preparation.
• The burden of leadership: Cao Yiyan must balance the benefits of military strength, the dangers of martial experts, and the political implications of restoring Great Wei.
• Uncertainty and fate: Cao’s growing luck after obtaining the Great Wei Mandate suggests that destiny is moving events in his favor, though the Heavenly Secret Monster’s arrival indicates that new complications are imminent.

Character Interactions

• Zeng Nianzhen coordinates with his fellow martial artists and ultimately orders them to scatter, prioritizing survival over solidarity.
• The Wei commander explains the Martial Corps’ training costs and battlefield superiority to Cao Yiyan, effectively advising him on state-building.
• Cao questions the commander about the Kingdom of Ying and learns the truth behind its apparent submission to False Zheng.
• The Wei loyalists treat Cao as the potential successor to Great Wei, while Cao evaluates the reliability and motives of their hidden kingdom.
• The Heavenly Secret Monster’s unexpected request to meet Cao ends the chapter on a note of suspense.