Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Nobility Beyond Words”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Cheng, a Daoist of Mount Tong Temple, is confronted in his underground lair while controlling eighteen Blood Corpses and concealing evidence of his crimes.
• Su Ziji enters seeking revenge and answers. He recognizes Boss Zhang among the people Shen Cheng has turned into motionless Blood Corpses, confirming Shen Cheng’s involvement in the plot against him.
• Shen Cheng attempts to deceive Su Ziji by claiming that the victims are possessed and that he is saving them. He secretly prepares a spell to attack if Su Ziji approaches.
• Su Ziji exposes Shen Cheng as a hypocrite and reveals his identity. Shen Cheng recognizes him only after noticing a new, faint azure aura around him—an indication of extraordinary nobility and the potential destiny of a king or marquis.
• Su Ziji demands to know why Shen Cheng and Boss Zhang framed and targeted him, noting that his family seemed too insignificant to justify such elaborate persecution. He suspects a more powerful figure is orchestrating the conspiracy.
• Shen Cheng refuses to explain, declaring that Su Ziji’s misfortune stems from being born into an inferior family. He then attacks with the Nightmare Suppression Technique, summoning grotesque ghost faces to crush Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji effortlessly shatters the technique, shocking Shen Cheng. Shen Cheng realizes that Su Ziji is far more powerful and mysterious than his appearance suggests.
• Shen Cheng activates his ultimate weapon: the eighteen Blood Corpses. Using a small command flag, he arranges them into a formation and orders them to surround and kill Su Ziji.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji is shown as calm, perceptive, and determined. His spiritual senses have greatly improved, allowing him to detect the blood and evil hidden beneath Shen Cheng’s false appearance of righteousness. He is no longer merely a scholar or mortal in Shen Cheng’s eyes; the emergence of azure noble qi suggests an extraordinary change in his destiny.
• Shen Cheng is exposed as a cruel and calculating hypocrite. Although he appears righteous and respectable, he uses deception, forbidden techniques, corpses, and institutional authority to commit evil. His confidence begins to collapse when Su Ziji easily resists his strongest spell.
• Boss Zhang serves as a crucial link between Su Ziji and Shen Cheng, confirming that the local gang leader was acting under the Daoist’s orders.
• The Blood Corpses are presented as both victims and weapons. Their resentment has been twisted so that they now perceive Su Ziji as their enemy.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Shen Cheng’s noble appearance and official credentials conceal his demonic practices, while Su Ziji’s seemingly ordinary identity hides a growing supernatural destiny.
• Corruption disguised as righteousness: Shen Cheng claims to act for the public good and argues that official authority will bear the karmic consequences of his actions, exposing the hypocrisy of institutions that protect evil.
• Destiny and social status: Shen Cheng’s remark that Su Ziji should blame his birth reveals a worldview in which family background determines worth. The appearance of noble qi challenges that belief and suggests Su Ziji’s fate is rising beyond his origins.
• Justice and revenge: Su Ziji seeks not only to punish Shen Cheng but also to uncover the hidden mastermind behind the conspiracy, showing that revenge is tied to discovering the truth.
• Retribution and moral consequences: Su Ziji condemns Shen Cheng’s use of dark magic, invoking sin and retribution against a man who believes official power can shield him from guilt.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Shen Cheng engage in a battle of deception and intimidation. Shen Cheng tries to pose as an innocent Daoist, while Su Ziji immediately sees through him.
• Su Ziji confronts Shen Cheng over his collaboration with Boss Zhang and the Wild Daoist, demanding an explanation for the attack against his family.
• Shen Cheng responds with contempt, refusing to reveal the larger conspiracy and attacking Su Ziji instead.
• Their verbal conflict escalates into magical combat: Shen Cheng uses the Nightmare Suppression Technique, but Su Ziji destroys it with ease.
• The chapter ends with Shen Cheng abandoning verbal manipulation and unleashing the eighteen Blood Corpses, setting up the next stage of their confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Heavenly Might”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Cheng tries to dissuade Su Ziji from attacking by claiming that the Blood Corpses are still living people, many of them innocent civilians. Su Ziji rejects this argument, recognizing Zhang Dacuo as a murderer and viewing the Blood Corpses as enemies rather than innocents.
• Shen Cheng orders the Blood Corpses to kill Su Ziji. Zhang Dacuo attacks first, but Su Ziji cuts through half his neck and discovers that the corpse contains almost no blood and continues fighting despite the wound.
• Su Ziji battles the Blood Corpses with his Primordial Spirit-enhanced perception. The corpses feel pain but do not fear death, and their poisoned claws make them especially dangerous.
• Shen Cheng explains that the corpses can continue fighting even as skeletons, but he secretly bears part of the damage they receive because he controls them through his own mana. He takes energy-restoring pills to sustain the battle and expects Su Ziji to be worn down.
• During the fight, Su Ziji’s understanding of the Su-style Fist Technique suddenly deepens. His movements become far more refined, allowing him to fight more than a dozen Blood Corpses with ease.
• Shen Cheng sacrifices some of his own heart’s blood to strengthen the corpses, but Su Ziji quickly identifies their main weakness: mobility. He severs their knees and limbs, reducing them to crawling, largely harmless opponents.
• The Primordial Spirit’s power triggers an ominous heavenly reaction. Thunder begins to sound, and Su Ziji realizes that exposing its nature has attracted “adverse winds” and heavenly danger.
• Choosing to end the battle quickly, Su Ziji attacks Shen Cheng directly. The injuries reflected through the Blood Corpses cripple Shen Cheng’s legs, allowing Su Ziji to cut his throat.
• Shen Cheng dies in disbelief, still dreaming of gaining official merit and becoming master of Mount Tong Temple.
• Su Ziji searches Shen Cheng’s body for useful items and immediately leaves the secret chamber. As heavenly lightning descends on the temple, he calls upon the Dragon Lord to take him away. Soon afterward, lightning strikes the temple, shaking the chamber and exploding a nearby tree.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates increasing ruthlessness and decisiveness. He rejects moral manipulation, kills without hesitation when facing a dangerous enemy, and applies battlefield logic to overcome the Blood Corpses. His Primordial Spirit also dramatically improves his martial understanding, allowing him to elevate a basic technique to a much higher level.
• Shen Cheng: His confidence collapses as his assumptions about Su Ziji prove wrong. He begins by relying on intimidation and the Blood Corpses’ endurance, but gradually becomes frightened when Su Ziji grows stronger and discovers their weakness. His desperation leads him to spend vital energy, use heart’s blood, and ultimately expose his vulnerability.
• Zhang Dacuo: Revealed as one of the Blood Corpses and confirmed to be a violent criminal rather than an innocent victim. His continued attack after suffering a fatal wound emphasizes the unnatural nature of the corpses.

Significant Themes

• Moral manipulation versus personal judgment: Shen Cheng invokes the innocence of the Blood Corpses to restrain Su Ziji, but Su Ziji refuses to accept a false moral framework created by his enemy.
• Humanity and monstrosity: The Blood Corpses technically retain pain and movement, yet their lack of blood, souls, fear, and self-preservation makes them fundamentally unlike ordinary living people.
• Adaptability and tactical intelligence: Su Ziji defeats the seemingly unstoppable corpses not by overpowering them completely, but by identifying and exploiting their dependence on movement.
• Power and consequence: The Primordial Spirit grants Su Ziji extraordinary insight, but using and revealing it attracts dangerous heavenly backlash.
• Ambition and downfall: Shen Cheng’s dreams of official recognition and leadership contrast sharply with his sudden death, showing how arrogance and ambition can blind him to immediate danger.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Shen Cheng: Their confrontation is primarily psychological as well as physical. Shen Cheng attempts to shame and frighten Su Ziji, while Su Ziji remains cold and unmoved. The balance shifts as Su Ziji gains control of the fight and Shen Cheng becomes panicked.
• Su Ziji and the Blood Corpses: Su Ziji initially tests their durability, then adapts by targeting their legs and mobility. His enhanced perception allows him to move calmly through their attacks.
• Shen Cheng and the Blood Corpses: Shen Cheng controls them through mana and strengthens them with his own blood, but the connection also causes their injuries to damage him. His dependence on them ultimately becomes the reason for his defeat.

Chapter Summary:

True Dragon Path

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Kuan, the Prefectural Academy professor, works late preparing for the upcoming Prefectural Examination. With the arrangements nearly complete, he notices an unusually violent thunderstorm over Coiling Dragon Lake, where a student chess tournament is taking place.
• Concerned that the storm may have harmed the students and damaged the prefecture’s reputation before the academic administrator’s arrival, Li Kuan orders his servant to have the yamen inspect the lake afterward.
• On Coiling Dragon Lake, Su Ziji returns to the painted barge during the storm. A terrifying bolt of lightning targets him directly, paralyzing him with overwhelming spiritual pressure.
• A golden light emerges from Su Ziji and transforms into the Primordial Spirit of the Dragon Lord. It no longer resembles the Young Dragon but takes the form of a majestic figure in ceremonial robes.
• The Primordial Spirit draws the lightning away from Su Ziji but is repeatedly struck and gradually destroyed by thunderfire. Once the danger passes, Su Ziji checks the cabin and confirms that Bu Hui and the other passengers are unharmed, though they remain unconscious.
• Su Ziji discovers four letters and a ten-tael banknote taken from Shen Cheng’s chest. The letters, written by different people in coded language, reveal that a mysterious organization has been searching for remnants of the former dynasty and targeting multiple victims.
• The letters also mention “alchemical practitioners,” introducing a previously unknown supernatural faction or discipline. Su Ziji wonders whether Wild Daoist may have connections to them.
• His Rosewood Pendant activates several improvements: his Four Books and Five Classics approach Level 7, his Su-style Fist Technique rises from Level 2 to Level 5, his aptitude increases from 13 to 14, and he gains the Level 1 Coiling Dragon Heart Method.
• Su Ziji recognizes the Coiling Dragon Heart Method as a possible foundation of the “True Dragon Path,” suggesting that his encounter with the Dragon Lord has opened a new route of cultivation.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes increasingly aware that his persecution was part of a larger conspiracy rather than an isolated attack. He begins investigating his own possible connection to the former dynasty.
• He grows more cautious and pragmatic, choosing not to pursue mysteries beyond his current understanding and resolving to focus on immediate, attainable goals such as the Prefectural Examination.
• His cultivation and martial ability improve dramatically through the Dragon Lord’s Primordial Spirit. However, he understands that fully absorbing it would cause him to become the Dragon Lord’s avatar, making such power too dangerous to pursue directly.
• The Dragon Lord’s Primordial Spirit is shown to be powerful enough to interfere with heavenly lightning, yet fragile enough to be destroyed by repeated thunderfire. Its new ceremonial form hints at a deeper identity and connection to an ancient or imperial tradition.
• Li Kuan is portrayed as responsible and cautious, prioritizing the safety of the students and the reputation of the prefectural scholarly administration.

Significant Themes

• Power and danger: Su Ziji gains immense benefits from the Dragon Lord’s presence, but the same power threatens to erase his identity and autonomy.
• Hidden history and conspiracy: The coded letters suggest that the former dynasty, its survivors, and secret organizations remain active beneath the surface of society.
• The limits of knowledge: Su Ziji encounters concepts such as alchemical practitioners and the True Dragon Path that lie far beyond his ordinary experience, emphasizing how little he understands about the supernatural world.
• Identity and inheritance: The possibility that Su Ziji’s family may be connected to the former dynasty raises questions about his origins and whether his destiny is tied to a buried royal or spiritual legacy.
• Scholarship and cultivation: His progress in classical learning parallels his advancement in martial and spiritual techniques, linking intellectual achievement with supernatural growth.

Character Interactions

• Li Kuan communicates with his servant, directing him to arrange an inspection of Coiling Dragon Lake after the storm.
• Su Ziji encounters no conscious passengers but checks on Bu Hui and the others, showing concern for their safety.
• The letters connect Su Ziji indirectly to Shen Cheng and a wider network of conspirators seeking former-dynasty remnants.
• Su Ziji reflects on Wild Daoist as a possible source of information about alchemical practitioners, though he has not yet confronted him.
• His most important interaction is with the Dragon Lord’s Primordial Spirit: it saves him from the lightning but also reinforces the danger that the Dragon Lord could eventually possess and transform him.

Chapter Summary: “Awakening”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji attempts to cultivate the Dragon Transformation method after escaping the Dragon Palace. Because he is human, he lacks the demonic natures and accumulated Merit normally required for the technique. His attempt to absorb spiritual energy produces only a negligible result.
• A faint snapping sound signals Hu Xiyan’s awakening. She finds herself safely back on the pleasure boat, with the others asleep as though they had merely rested after the chess match.
• Hu Xiyan realizes that her experience inside the Dragon Palace—including the destruction of the final hall and the attack of Blood Baleful Intent—was real, not an illusion. She suspects the Rosewood Pendant may have protected her, though she cannot determine why.
• She also notices that the attack seemed to target her because she was a demon, but shifted away from her at the last moment.
• Hu Xiyan questions whether Su Ziji might be the “fated one” connected to the Dragon Palace. However, the Rosewood Pendant gives no reaction around him, leaving her uncertain.
• Hu Xiyan wakes Hu Shijiu and questions her about the Dragon Lord of Coiling Dragon Lake. Shijiu recalls that the Dragon Lord once ruled the local Water Tribe and may have later become the Demon Emperor who founded the Demon Court.
• Hu Xiyan concludes that the Dragon Lord’s disappearance was sudden and likely connected to the Dragon Palace’s opening and the “fated one,” rather than simply caused by the gradual decline of spiritual energy.
• As people on the pleasure boat begin waking, Su Ziji and Ye Buhui observe that most are suffering from severe headaches and appear to have had their memories altered.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui decide to remain silent and investigate carefully before revealing what they know.
• Zheng Yingci shows unusual resistance to the memory alteration. Though in pain and unable to speak, he sees his memories being forcibly replaced and struggles against the invisible influence.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Learns that his human identity makes the Dragon cultivation method extremely difficult to follow. Despite this limitation, he appears to have gained a special opportunity from the Dragon Palace and quickly recognizes the memory manipulation affecting the others.
• Ye Buhui: Awakens with her memories intact and shares Su Ziji’s suspicions. She remains cautious and troubled by the unexplained events.
• Hu Xiyan: Becomes increasingly suspicious of the Dragon Palace, the Rosewood Pendant, and Su Ziji’s identity. Her intelligence and caution lead her to investigate whether the others remember what truly happened.
• Hu Shijiu: Remains innocent and hungry, accepting the false explanation that everyone simply rested after the chess game. Her recollection of Dragon Lord legends provides important historical information.
• Zheng Yingci: Demonstrates strong mental resistance and self-control, making him different from the other chess players. His struggle suggests that he may become aware of the truth despite the imposed memory changes.

Significant Themes

• Identity and destiny: Su Ziji’s possible connection to the “fated one” and the Dragon Lord raises questions about whether destiny depends on appearance, lineage, or hidden nature.
• Memory and reality: The chapter emphasizes how easily reality can be concealed through altered memories. Most people accept a false explanation without suspicion, while a few characters retain or resist the truth.
• Human and demon boundaries: Su Ziji’s human nature prevents him from following the demonic Dragon cultivation path, while Hu Xiyan’s demonic identity may have made her a target.
• Hidden power and protection: The Rosewood Pendant’s possible role in saving Hu Xiyan remains mysterious, suggesting that artifacts and unseen forces are shaping events.
• Knowledge versus ignorance: Hu Xiyan, Su Ziji, Ye Buhui, and Zheng Yingci begin to recognize that something is wrong, while the others remain trapped in an artificial version of events.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji silently observes the sleeping Ye Buhui and later discusses the altered memories with her on the deck.
• Hu Xiyan questions Hu Shijiu about the Dragon Lord, using her younger sister’s knowledge to piece together the history of the Water Palace.
• Hu Xiyan and Shijiu’s contrasting reactions—Xiyan’s suspicion and Shijiu’s hunger and innocence—provide both tension and comic relief.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui agree to conceal their knowledge and observe the others rather than act prematurely.
• Zheng Yingci’s inability to speak, despite trying to communicate, isolates him from the others as he fights internally against the memory-altering force.

Chapter Summary: “Baleful Aura”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After recovering from the strange pain and confusion caused by the Water Palace Chess Game, Zheng Yingci observes the defeated Go players. Although he believes their despair is excessive, he realizes he is also unable to smile or feel at ease.
• The players display unusual hostility toward Su Ziji and Ye Buhui, mocking them for advancing to the top sixteen and suggesting they have become arrogant. Their resentment is intensified by Ye Buhui’s victory over Zheng Yingci and by their prejudice against women succeeding in Go.
• One player openly provokes Zheng Yingci, implying that he is romantically interested in Ye Buhui because he defends her. Zheng Yingci angrily rejects the accusation but notices that the players’ emotions seem abnormal and difficult to control.
• Zheng Yingci defends the principle that Go should judge people by ability rather than age or gender. He then leaves the cabin and goes onto the rainy deck, where the fresh air briefly calms him.
• He senses that he has forgotten something important, but after reviewing the day’s events, he cannot identify what is missing. He concludes that his mood is simply the result of losing and being influenced by the others.
• The tournament’s results are confirmed: fourteen-year-old Ye Buhui wins first place, while Zheng Yingci takes second. Ye Buhui qualifies for the Capital City tournament.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui later appear on the deck. Zheng Yingci congratulates Ye Buhui and advises them to bid farewell to the other players and collect the documents needed for travel.
• Su Ziji recognizes that Zheng Yingci, like the others, has forgotten the true events surrounding the Water Palace Chess Game. He encourages Ye Buhui to maintain proper relationships with the other players despite their hostility.
• Before returning to the cabin, Su Ziji asks Zheng Yingci whether a young woman surnamed Hu is aboard the boat. Zheng Yingci says he knows of no such person, which makes Su Ziji suspicious.

Character Developments

• Zheng Yingci: His normally composed and generous nature is disturbed by inexplicable anger, resentment, and memory loss. Despite losing to Ye Buhui, he remains principled and defends merit over age or gender. His confusion suggests that the Water Palace Chess Game has altered his emotions or memories.
• Ye Buhui: She emerges as the clear winner of the tournament and qualifies for the Capital City competition. Though blunt, socially indifferent, and unwilling to flatter others, she can recognize sincere goodwill and is willing to follow Su Ziji’s advice.
• Su Ziji: He becomes increasingly aware that reality has deviated from its original course. His sharper senses and awareness of the others’ altered memories make him more cautious. He also takes responsibility for guiding Ye Buhui’s conduct and begins investigating the mysterious woman surnamed Hu.
• The other Go players: Their frustration and resentment become unusually uncontrolled, especially over being defeated by a young girl. Their behavior suggests the influence of an unseen force or aura.

Significant Themes

• The corrupting influence of the Water Palace Chess Game: The players’ distorted emotions, memory gaps, and irrational hostility point to an invisible power affecting their minds.
• Merit versus prejudice: The chapter challenges the belief that age, gender, and social status should determine one’s standing in Go. Zheng Yingci insists that victory and ability are the only proper measures.
• Memory and altered reality: Zheng Yingci and the others have forgotten crucial events, while Su Ziji remains aware that something unnatural has happened.
• Social conduct and ambition: Su Ziji recognizes that success in the Chess Path requires more than talent; Ye Buhui must also learn to navigate relationships and reputation.
• Hidden danger and mystery: The unknown woman surnamed Hu may be connected to the unexplained events, and her apparent absence deepens the chapter’s suspense.

Important Character Interactions

• Zheng Yingci and the resentful players: Their argument exposes the players’ jealousy and prejudice, while Zheng Yingci’s defense of Ye Buhui demonstrates his remaining rationality.
• Zheng Yingci and Ye Buhui: He congratulates her respectfully despite losing to her, showing genuine sportsmanship.
• Zheng Yingci and Su Ziji: Their conversation appears cordial, but Su Ziji privately recognizes Zheng Yingci’s memory loss and altered state.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: Su urges her to bid farewell to the others and preserve proper etiquette. Though initially reluctant, Ye accepts his reasoning.
• Su Ziji and Zheng Yingci: Su’s inquiry about the woman surnamed Hu reveals his growing suspicion that someone—or something—has been concealed from everyone aboard the boat.

Chapter Summary: “Ten Thousand Fish Paying Homage”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Ye Buhui wins the chess contest, the cabin erupts in hostility. Several Examination Students and Cultivated Talents insult her for being a woman and resent her victory rather than congratulating her.
• The pleasure-barge steward formally gives Ye Buhui the document admitting her to the Round of Sixteen, allowing her to enter the Capital City competition directly.
• Su Ziji angrily condemns the chess players’ poor character, arguing that people seeking official positions should possess dignity and self-control. He then leaves with Ye Buhui.
• Zheng Yingci feels something is wrong and briefly tries to follow them, sensing that he has forgotten something important. However, his companions remind him of a drinking appointment, and his obligations to the Zheng Family prevent him from pursuing Su Ziji. He watches their boat disappear with an unexplained sense of loss.
• Hu Xiyan’s pleasure barge also leaves the area. She discusses taking Hu Shijiu to the prefectural city for food, while recognizing that the chess players are surrounded by ominous deathly energy.
• Hu Xiyan identifies the phenomenon as Against-the-Wind, suggesting that Heaven has condemned the chess players and that a major calamity is beginning. She believes Hu Shijiu must be removed because the girl’s low cultivation could make her vulnerable.
• A spectacular phenomenon appears on the lake: countless fish, shrimp, and turtles gather and rise from the water in a display known as “Ten Thousand Fish Paying Homage.”
• Hu Xiyan realizes this may signal the awakening of the Dragon Palace beneath Coiling Dragon Lake. Beneath the lake, a ruined palace complex activates an ancient formation.
• The Shell Maiden enters the ruins and awakens the Dragon Palace’s Young Lord, a starving young dragon girl with small horns. The Shell Maiden explains that after the Dragon Lord disappeared, the Dragon Court collapsed and its followers scattered.
• The young dragon, once surrounded by prosperity and attendants, finds the palace in ruins. Despite her desperate condition, she remains confident that her “Master” will eventually return.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji displays a strong sense of justice and official propriety. He is angered not merely by the insults toward Ye Buhui, but by the realization that supposedly educated men are ruled by resentment and vindictiveness.
• Ye Buhui remains patient for practical reasons, enduring the abuse until she receives her qualification document. Once the objective is achieved, she immediately leaves with Su Ziji.
• Zheng Yingci becomes increasingly troubled by his connection to Su Ziji and Ye Buhui. His intuition suggests that something significant has been forgotten, and their departure leaves him with a vague feeling of loss.
• Hu Xiyan shows caution and political awareness. She recognizes the supernatural danger surrounding the chess players and avoids interfering with Heaven’s judgment, while taking precautions to protect Hu Shijiu.
• Hu Shijiu remains carefree and focused on food, contrasting sharply with the ominous events around her.
• The Shell Maiden is revealed to be devoted to the Young Dragon. Though reduced to poverty and exhaustion, she is overjoyed to find her master alive and deeply saddened by the Dragon Court’s destruction.
• The Young Dragon awakens weakened and starving, but retains faith that her Master will return, suggesting both innocence and an important past connection.

Significant Themes

• Character revealed through adversity: The chess players’ reaction to defeat exposes their resentment and lack of virtue, raising doubts about their suitability for government service.
• Official morality and social responsibility: Su Ziji emphasizes that education and examination success mean little without self-control, dignity, and proper conduct.
• Heavenly judgment and inevitable calamity: The deathly aura and the phenomenon called Against-the-Wind imply that the chess players have incurred a fate beyond human intervention.
• Decline and restoration: The ruined Dragon Palace and starving Young Dragon contrast with the former prosperity of the Dragon Court, while the awakening formation hints at a possible revival.
• Memory, separation, and forgotten bonds: Zheng Yingci’s unexplained unease and the Young Dragon’s faith in her absent Master suggest that important relationships and past events are beginning to resurface.
• Renewal beneath destruction: The gathering of ten thousand fish and the awakening of the Dragon Palace symbolize hidden forces re-emerging beneath an apparently calm world.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji supports Ye Buhui and confronts the hostile chess players on her behalf.
• Ye Buhui and Su Ziji cooperate closely, leaving together once her qualification is secured.
• Zheng Yingci is torn between pursuing Su Ziji and maintaining his obligations to his social circle and family interests.
• Hu Xiyan and Hu Xingzhu discuss the danger surrounding the chess players and the risks of taking Hu Shijiu to the prefectural city.
• The Shell Maiden reunites with and serves the awakened Young Dragon, offering her the only food she possesses.
• The Young Dragon’s final declaration that her Master will return establishes an emotional link to the wider mystery and foreshadows future developments.

Chapter Summary: “Cold and Clear”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hui Dao and his young disciple travel along a mountain road and stop at an isolated roadside stall that appears to be run by a family.
• Hui Dao immediately recognizes that the stall is an illusion and warns his disciple to follow his signals. He nevertheless accepts the hosts’ invitation, orders food, and eats the suspicious “beef.”
• After the meal, Hui Dao exposes the deception. The shack, tables, and family vanish, revealing that they had been sitting among rocks in an open field.
• The supposed family is revealed to be Liu Chen, leader of the Yin Temple Sect and a fellow Daoist. Liu had used illusion techniques and manipulated the surroundings to test or entertain Hui Dao while waiting for a powerful enemy.
• Liu explains that he is pursuing a great enemy and hopes to locate and kill him with the aid of a special imprint. He also expresses interest in recruiting Zheng Yingci, whom he believes has exceptional potential.
• Before their conversation can continue, a crimson rainbow erupts from Coiling Dragon Lake, signaling that the Dragon Palace has opened and that the seal protecting it has been damaged. Liu immediately leaves to investigate.
• Hui Dao realizes that this event may radically alter the balance of power, particularly by affecting alchemists hunting the Demon Race and triggering a larger political and supernatural upheaval.
• The chapter ends with Hui Dao reaffirming his refusal to become involved in political struggles. Remembering Mount Tong Temple’s past sacrifices and betrayal by the court, he resolves to destroy or withhold the sect’s secret arts so future disciples cannot repeat its mistake of serving the imperial government.

Character Developments

• Hui Dao is shown to be perceptive, cautious, and highly skilled in Heavenly Secret arts. He sees through Liu Chen’s elaborate illusion using ordinary practical reasoning rather than openly revealing his supernatural insight.
• Hui Dao’s deep bitterness toward the court becomes clearer. The execution of his master, the deaths and sacrifices of Mount Tong Temple’s disciples, and years of government surveillance have convinced him that political loyalty brings only exploitation and betrayal.
• His decision to teach only qi refinement—and eventually burn the sect’s secret techniques—reveals how far his disillusionment has progressed. He would rather let the temple decline than allow its knowledge to be used by the court.
• The young Daoist disciple remains inexperienced and easily frightened, initially imagining that the stallkeepers are monsters. He gains confidence from his master’s presence but still lacks the ability to perceive the supernatural event at Coiling Dragon Lake.
• Liu Chen is introduced as a powerful, politically connected Daoist who combines humor and deception with serious ambitions. Although he claims no hostility toward Hui Dao, he wishes he had Hui Dao’s help in pursuing his enemy and recognizes the value of Hui Dao’s abilities.

Significant Themes

• Disillusionment with political power: Mount Tong Temple’s past service to the state brought sacrifice rather than reward, illustrating how governments exploit loyal institutions and discard them afterward.
• The danger of inherited memory: Hui Dao fears that later generations will forget the suffering of their predecessors and once again place their trust in the court.
• Knowledge as both inheritance and threat: Hui Dao considers destroying the temple’s secret arts to prevent future disciples from being manipulated or recruited.
• Illusion versus reality: The false stall reflects the chapter’s broader concern with appearances, hidden motives, and the difficulty of interpreting political and supernatural events.
• Withdrawal versus engagement: Liu Chen seeks to intervene in conflicts and shape events, while Hui Dao deliberately refuses involvement, believing that strength—not merit—determines who benefits from political change.
• Approaching upheaval: The opening of the Dragon Palace suggests that established power structures and the current “heavenly numbers” are about to change.

Character Interactions

• Hui Dao acts as both protector and instructor to his disciple, warning him to remain obedient while allowing him to learn from the dangerous encounter.
• The disciple’s nervous questions and Hui Dao’s calm, teasing responses establish their affectionate master-disciple relationship.
• Hui Dao and Liu Chen exchange polite but guarded compliments. Their conversation reveals mutual respect for each other’s abilities, but also clear disagreement: Liu wants allies and action, while Hui Dao refuses to enter political or sectarian conflicts.
• Liu’s mention of Zheng Yingci creates a point of shared interest between the two Daoists, though it also hints at a possible future rivalry or competition over the young talent.
• Hui Dao’s reflections on his deceased master and junior brother Shen Cheng show that his present distrust is shaped not only by personal grief but also by concern that others may repeat the sect’s past mistakes.

Chapter Summary: “Fire”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After losing a chess match to Ye Buhui, the scholars aboard the pleasure barge attempt to soothe their wounded pride by discussing inviting performers from Green Willow Pavilion. They plan to use the women’s music, chess, and company as a way to demean Ye Buhui and make themselves feel superior.
• Zheng Yingci is disgusted by their vulgarity and hypocrisy. He believes their behavior humiliates them more than it does Ye Buhui, and he openly declines to join them.
• Zheng leaves the pleasure barge with his friend Chen Ziyi. Chen assumes Zheng is upset about losing at chess and comforts him, but Zheng’s true distress comes from realizing that he misjudged the other scholars and failed to recruit Su Ziji.
• During the journey, Zheng and Chen discuss Su Ziji’s connections with the Fang Family and his unexpectedly low ranking in the County Examination. Zheng acknowledges that Su’s essay was strong and that his ranking may have been unfairly low.
• The two decide to go ashore and visit a famous tavern near Coiling Dragon Lake. As their boat moves away, the weather suddenly worsens, with strong winds, dark clouds, and rain.
• A servant notices something wrong behind them: the pleasure barge has caught fire. Because the boats were tied together for the chess match, the flames spread rapidly from vessel to vessel.
• Panic erupts. Scholars and boatmen jump into the lake, while nearby boats flee. The fire intensifies as the wind feeds it, and the burning canopy and beams collapse, trapping people inside the cabins and leaving their survival uncertain.

Character Developments

• Zheng Yingci becomes increasingly disillusioned with the scholars around him. His contempt shifts from disappointment over the chess match to shame at having mistaken shallow, self-serving people for worthy companions.
• He also recognizes that Su Ziji is probably aligned with the Fang Family, helping explain why Su rejected the Zheng Family’s attempts to recruit him.
• Chen Ziyi proves to be a supportive and considerate friend. He tries to comfort Zheng and remains attentive to his mood, though he initially misunderstands the source of Zheng’s distress.
• The scholars’ wounded pride reveals their pettiness and moral weakness, especially in their desire to retaliate against Ye Buhui through insinuation and vulgar entertainment.
• The sudden fire transforms the scholars from arrogant competitors into frightened, desperate survivors.

Significant Themes

• Pride and humiliation: The scholars cannot accept being defeated by a young woman and attempt to recover their pride through gossip and cruel mockery.
• Moral judgment and disillusionment: Zheng learns that education and social status do not necessarily indicate refinement or integrity.
• Appearance versus reality: The pleasure barge represents elegance and status, but beneath its polished surface are resentment, vanity, and vulgarity. The fire physically destroys this façade.
• Unpredictability of fate: The scholars’ concerns about reputation and competition become meaningless when an unexpected disaster threatens their lives.
• Fire as destruction and revelation: The flames expose the group’s chaos and vulnerability while symbolically burning away their pretensions.

Character Interactions

• The scholars collectively discuss inviting entertainers, revealing their shared resentment toward Ye Buhui.
• Zheng rejects their plans and cuts himself off from the group.
• Chen Ziyi comforts Zheng and later discusses Su Ziji with him, giving Zheng an opportunity to explain his frustration.
• Zheng and Chen’s relatively trusting friendship contrasts with the scholars’ shallow camaraderie.
• The chapter ends with the pleasure barge’s passengers thrown into chaos as the fire spreads, creating a dramatic shift from social rivalry to life-or-death danger.

Chapter Summary: “Sinking into Water”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zheng Yingci orders his servants to rescue people from a pleasure barge engulfed in flames. His experienced servant, Uncle Tian, warns that approaching the burning vessel would likely destroy their own boat.
• Following Chen Ziyi’s advice, Zheng Yingci’s party circles the pleasure barge and rescues victims who jump into the water, using bamboo poles to pull them aboard.
• A burning man reaches the pleasure barge’s deck and begs for help, but the rescuers cannot safely approach. He is consumed by the flames, deeply disturbing Zheng Yingci.
• The wind suddenly changes, sending the burning pleasure barge directly toward Zheng Yingci’s boat. Despite the crew’s efforts, they cannot maneuver away in time.
• The fire ship crashes into their vessel. A falling mast kills one servant, while the flames rapidly spread across the boat.
• Zheng Yingci and Chen Ziyi attempt to fight the fire, but the blaze becomes uncontrollable. Servants urge Zheng Yingci to jump into the lake while holding a wooden barrel.
• Chen Ziyi jumps first, followed reluctantly by Zheng Yingci, who cannot swim. The lake water is unexpectedly cold, causing Zheng Yingci’s body to stiffen and one leg to cramp.
• While Zheng Yingci sinks, the Examination Student and chess player he had previously helped swims over and takes his barrel instead of rescuing him. The student is then struck and killed by a falling beam.
• Zheng Yingci nearly gives up, but memories of his parents, Su Ziji, and others awaken his will to live. His cramp eases, allowing him to seize a partly burned wooden beam before losing consciousness.
• Meanwhile, far away, Su Ziji and Ye Buhui remain unaware of the disaster. They relax on their boat, intending to sleep while their boatman catches fish.

Character Developments

• Zheng Yingci: His strong sense of duty and concern for his reputation initially drive him to rescue others. The disaster exposes his fear, helplessness, and attachment to his unfinished ambitions. Though he nearly resigns himself to death, his love for his family and desire to fulfill his potential rekindle his will to survive.
• Chen Ziyi: He acts as a practical adviser, persuading Zheng Yingci to rescue people from the water rather than risk approaching the burning vessel. He also jumps into the lake decisively when the boat catches fire.
• Uncle Tian: Demonstrates loyalty and experience by challenging Zheng Yingci’s dangerous order and offering a safer rescue strategy.
• The Examination Student: His selfish attempt to take Zheng Yingci’s barrel contrasts sharply with Zheng Yingci’s earlier willingness to help him. His death suggests the consequences of cowardice and betrayal.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: Their peaceful, carefree scene creates dramatic irony, as they remain completely unaware of Zheng Yingci’s life-threatening situation.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between morality and self-preservation: Zheng Yingci wants to save others but must confront the limits of what he can safely do.
• Reputation versus genuine compassion: His concern for his good name initially motivates him, but his actions ultimately reveal sincere kindness and courage.
• The unpredictability of fate: A sudden change in wind transforms a rescue effort into a catastrophe, emphasizing how quickly circumstances can collapse.
• The will to survive: Zheng Yingci’s determination returns when he remembers his loved ones and unfinished ambitions.
• Betrayal and moral contrast: The Examination Student’s selfishness contrasts with Zheng Yingci’s earlier generosity.
• Dramatic irony: The reader knows Zheng Yingci is fighting for his life while Su Ziji and Ye Buhui remain comfortably unaware nearby.

Character Interactions

• Zheng Yingci clashes with Uncle Tian over whether the burning barge can be approached, but ultimately accepts his servant’s practical reasoning.
• Chen Ziyi supports Uncle Tian’s advice and helps Zheng Yingci make a safer rescue decision.
• Zheng Yingci respectfully assists the rescued Examination Student despite their earlier antagonism.
• The Examination Student later abandons Zheng Yingci underwater, creating a sharp reversal of their relationship.
• Zheng Yingci’s interactions with his memories of family and acquaintances become an internal source of strength, helping him resist death.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui’s relaxed companionship provides a contrasting parallel to Zheng Yingci’s crisis.

Chapter Summary: “Widely Recited”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a long night, Su Ziji tells Ye Buhui to rest aboard their small rented boat. Both eventually fall asleep.
• Su Ziji awakens in a ruined version of the Dragon Palace. The once-grand palace has been devastated, and he feels melancholy and guilty over having benefited from its destruction.
• He encounters a Shell Maiden who has survived alone for 417 years since the Dragon Lord disappeared. She explains that the Dragon Palace gradually collapsed and its inhabitants vanished.
• The Shell Maiden asks Su Ziji to teach the young Dragon Lord the Coiling Dragon Heart Method while she continues caring for the dragon’s blood-food needs.
• Su Ziji finds the young dragon weakened and sleeping as she recovers. He begins reciting the method, discovering that each recitation grants him a small amount of experience.
• His recitation produces unusual effects: thunderous echoes, a pale aura around the dragon, and rhythmic ripples across Coiling Dragon Lake. Su Ziji realizes that repeatedly teaching the method may allow him to steadily increase his cultivation or abilities.
• The perspective then shifts to Zheng Yingci, who awakens on Penggong Islet after apparently surviving the destruction of the Zheng family’s ship.
• He remembers sinking in the lake and is shocked to find himself alive, though soaked, muddy, and physically distressed. The burning ship collapses into the water before his eyes.
• Zheng Yingci anxiously wonders whether Chen Ziyi and Uncle Tian survived. Unable to explain how he reached the distant islet, he suspects that an immortal—or perhaps death itself—may be involved.
• His confusion deepens when a corpse floats to the surface nearby.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji displays growing empathy and responsibility. Although he initially tries to dismiss his guilt over the Dragon Palace’s destruction, the sight of the Shell Maiden and the ruins affects him deeply.
• He also demonstrates patience and adaptability by agreeing to teach the young dragon. His discovery that recitation grants experience reveals his increasingly strategic approach to cultivation and advancement.
• Ye Buhui is portrayed as young, innocent, and exhausted, falling asleep almost immediately.
• The Shell Maiden is revealed to be extraordinarily loyal and resilient. Despite centuries of isolation, hardship, and fear, she remained to care for the Dragon Palace and awaits the young lord’s revival.
• The young Dragon Lord is physically weakened after centuries of depletion but is now recovering through blood food and the Dragon Palace’s spiritual energy.
• Zheng Yingci changes from relief at surviving to fear and uncertainty. His inability to account for his rescue leaves him questioning whether he is alive, dead, or the beneficiary of supernatural intervention.

Significant Themes

• Ruins and the passage of time: The Dragon Palace’s destruction over 417 years emphasizes impermanence and the consequences of abandonment.
• Loyalty and perseverance: The Shell Maiden’s survival and continued service demonstrate devotion lasting centuries.
• Responsibility and guilt: Su Ziji struggles with the fact that he profited from the Dragon Palace while others suffered its collapse.
• Accumulation through repetition: The Coiling Dragon Heart Method illustrates how seemingly minor, repeated efforts can gradually produce meaningful progress.
• Life, death, and the supernatural: Zheng Yingci’s unexplained survival and the floating corpse create uncertainty about the boundary between life and death.
• Isolation and survival: Both the Shell Maiden and Zheng Yingci face extreme solitude—one after centuries of abandonment, the other after a catastrophe that may have killed everyone around him.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji gently urges Ye Buhui to sleep, showing consideration for her youth and exhaustion.
• The Shell Maiden guides Su Ziji through the ruined palace, explains its history, and entrusts him with teaching the young dragon.
• Su Ziji accepts her request and begins reciting the heart method, creating a spiritual connection between his instruction and the dragon’s recovery.
• Zheng Yingci has no living companions present after awakening, and his imagined questions about Chen Ziyi and Uncle Tian emphasize his sudden separation from them. His discovery of the corpse ends the chapter on a note of suspense.

Chapter Summary: “Grievance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the pleasure boat burns and its passengers fall into Coiling Dragon Lake, Zheng Yingci discovers a corpse floating near Penggong Islet.
• He initially fears the body is his own, but realizes from the clothing that it belongs to someone else. When the corpse turns toward him, he recognizes it as his close friend, Chen Ziyi.
• Overwhelmed by grief, Zheng mourns Ziyi’s sudden death. Their planned leisurely outing has become a catastrophe, and Zheng’s sorrow is mixed with an inexplicable anger and sense of injustice.
• A suspicious boat arrives, carrying armed men who are searching for a badly wounded man. Their conversation reveals that the fire was not an isolated accident and that they are pursuing someone who may still be hiding in the lake.
• A mysterious middle-aged Daoist appears behind Zheng and reveals that the disaster was caused by a Great Demon, not merely by an ordinary fire. The scholars aboard the boat had promising futures but were killed because of the demon’s actions.
• The Daoist’s words trigger Zheng’s suppressed memories. He recalls the Water Palace Chess Game, the Dragon Lord, the Great Demon, and the role of Su Ziji, whose actions and silence contributed to the deaths aboard the boat.
• Remembering the full truth, Zheng asks the Daoist to guide him into the Daoist path so that he can avenge the dead.
• The Daoist warns that joining his sect will require Zheng to abandon his expected future as an official. Though initially hesitant, Zheng’s resentment and sense of grievance overcome his doubts, and he formally accepts the Daoist as his master.

Character Developments

• Zheng Yingci: Changes from a privileged scholar mourning a friend into a man consumed by grief, anger, and a desire for vengeance. His memories return, revealing that he has been caught up in supernatural events beyond the ordinary world. He rejects the official career prepared for him by his family and chooses cultivation under the Daoist.
• Chen Ziyi: Though already dead when the chapter begins, his death becomes the emotional center of the chapter. His loss transforms Zheng’s priorities and gives personal weight to the larger catastrophe.
• The Daoist: Appears as a mysterious savior who rescued Zheng and understands the true cause of the disaster. He tests Zheng’s resolve by asking whether he is willing to abandon his worldly future before accepting him as a disciple.
• Su Ziji and the Dragon Lord: Revealed through Zheng’s recovered memories as key figures in the earlier Water Palace incident. Su Ziji’s failure to warn the others and the Dragon Lord’s careless treatment of human lives are connected to Zheng’s anger.

Significant Themes

• Grief and sudden loss: Zheng’s mourning emphasizes how quickly an ordinary, pleasurable day can become a tragedy.
• Grievance and injustice: Zheng’s sorrow develops into resentment toward those who possessed power or opportunity while ordinary people suffered and died.
• Fate versus personal choice: The dead scholars are described as people with promising destinies, yet their futures are abruptly destroyed. Zheng responds by choosing a new path rather than continuing the life planned for him.
• The conflict between worldly ambition and spiritual cultivation: Zheng must choose between an illustrious official career and the dangerous Daoist path of revenge.
• Hidden supernatural forces: The apparent boat fire is revealed to be part of a larger conflict involving demons, the Dragon Lord, and the Water Palace Chess Game.
• The consequences of silence and power: The Dragon Lord’s disregard for human life and Su Ziji’s failure to warn the passengers suggest that withholding knowledge can lead to devastating consequences.

Important Character Interactions

• Zheng and Chen Ziyi: Their friendship is shown through Zheng’s intense reaction to Ziyi’s death and his determination to recover or mourn his body.
• Zheng and the pursuing men: Their brief encounter establishes that another wounded figure is being hunted and that the disaster may involve murder or supernatural conflict.
• Zheng and the Daoist: The Daoist first comforts and challenges him, then reveals the truth behind the disaster. Their exchange culminates in Zheng asking to become his disciple.
• Zheng’s memories of Su Ziji and the Dragon Lord: These recollections reshape his understanding of the tragedy and turn personal grief into a broader desire for revenge.

Chapter Summary: “Sun Buhan”

Plot Points and Events

• After reciting the Coiling Dragon Heart Method seven times, Su Ziji turns to the Four Books and Five Classics. His Rosewood Pendant records that his mastery has reached Level 7, refining his understanding of classical texts.
• Reflecting on the imperial examination system, Su realizes that advancing from County Examination success to the level of a Provincial Graduate within six months is extremely difficult. He doubts whether he can achieve the “Lesser Three Primes” and “Greater Three Primes” in succession.
• The Shell Maiden abruptly sends him back from the Dragon Palace after informing him that someone is calling for him.
• Su awakens aboard the boat to learn from the boatman that several corpses have appeared on the lake. He orders the boatman to retrieve them and search for survivors, recognizing that the dead may have come from the wrecked painted pleasure boat.
• A fast patrol vessel arrives. Its blue-clad occupants claim to be from the prefectural Patrol Inspectorate and question Su and the boatman. They search the boat and aggressively spear the water, clearly looking for a particular fugitive.
• Su identifies that the men are probably government agents, though perhaps not ordinary patrol inspectors. Their behavior suggests they are accustomed to arresting and killing people. One suspicious scholar among them pays particular attention to Su.
• After the patrol boat leaves, Ye Buhui spots a survivor clinging to wreckage. Su orders the boatman to rescue him.
• The survivor introduces himself as Sun Buhan, a scholar from the prefecture who had been aboard a neighboring pleasure boat. He gratefully promises to repay Su’s life-saving kindness and invites him to his family home.

Character Development

• Su Ziji: His increased mastery of the classics sharpens both his literary judgment and his awareness of the examination system’s difficulty. He acts compassionately by retrieving the corpses and rescuing the survivor, while also remaining cautious and observant when dealing with suspicious officials.
• Ye Buhui: She remains quiet during the officials’ search but demonstrates attentiveness by noticing Sun Buhan in the water. She trusts Su’s judgment about the patrolmen.
• The boatman: Though initially concerned about bad luck, he willingly retrieves the corpses because of both moral duty and possible payment. He loyally follows Su’s instructions.
• Sun Buhan: Introduced as a grateful survivor, he appears to be a scholar of similar age to Su. His identity is familiar to Su from the pleasure boats, making his rescue seem legitimate.

Significant Themes

• Moral duty and hidden virtue: Recovering unidentified bodies is presented as both a customary responsibility and a way to accumulate unseen merit.
• Compassion amid danger: Su chooses to help the dead and rescue survivors despite the ominous circumstances and possible risk.
• Appearance versus identity: The supposed patrol inspectors possess official authority but behave suspiciously, showing that government affiliation does not automatically guarantee trustworthiness.
• Scholarship and social advancement: Su’s reflections emphasize the demanding progression of the imperial examinations and the difference between genuine learning and unrealistic literary shortcuts.
• Fate and entanglement: Su’s decision to rescue Sun Buhan may draw him into the larger mystery surrounding the pleasure-boat disaster and the men searching the lake.

Character Interactions

• The Shell Maiden dismisses Su from the Dragon Palace, creating a playful but abrupt exchange.
• Su and the boatman discuss the corpses, the risk of bad luck, and the practical benefits of recovering them.
• Su confronts the patrolmen politely but firmly, protecting Ye Buhui from an intrusive search before being forced to allow it.
• Ye Buhui and Su privately assess the patrolmen as suspicious and unusually dangerous.
• Su rescues Sun Buhan, who expresses deep gratitude and invites him to the prefectural city, potentially establishing an important new connection.

Chapter Summary: “Changing One’s Destiny”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji and Sun Buhan share a meal and drink on a boat. Sun reveals that his father, the famed “Third Laureate,” actually failed the examinations by one character, though he was still honored by the late Emperor. Sun hopes to pass the Prefectural and Provincial Examinations but claims no ambition for the Metropolitan Examination.
• Sun invites Su to stay at his family residence during the examinations and promises to show him interesting places. Before Su can learn more, Sun’s family arrives in a pleasure boat to collect him. Su is reassured that Sun is a respectable young master rather than a fugitive.
• At Mist Mountain’s Taoist temple, a mysterious lamp connected to Shen Cheng suddenly goes out, signaling Shen Cheng’s death. A young Taoist receives a message from his master ordering him to act, apparently in connection with a powerful fox. Though troubled that his master has accepted another disciple, he resolves to kill the fox that disrupted his plans.
• At Penggong Islet, Zheng Yingci has just become the disciple of Liu Chen, head of the powerful Yin Temple Sect and a Grand Academician. Liu explains that an enemy he calls the “great thief” was undergoing a destiny-changing rebirth. Liu had marked it in order to kill it during its weakened state, but the mark vanished after the creature fled toward Coiling Dragon Lake and the Dragon Palace opened.
• Unable to kill the great thief, Liu turns his attention to the “lesser thief”—a fox demon associated with the painted pleasure boat. He orders his senior disciple, Cao Yiyan, to investigate and kill it.
• Liu warns Zheng not to interfere in conflicts among humans, but insists that demons must be dealt with harshly, especially those who conceal themselves among humans. He expresses particular hatred for “Confucian demons,” monsters who study the classics, pass the examinations, and enter official society.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes more comfortable around Sun Buhan. He recognizes Sun’s unusual poise and vitality, while also revealing his own love of reading and his intention to pursue examinations.
• Sun Buhan is portrayed as carefree and socially confident, yet pragmatic about the necessity of official honors. His family’s status and connection to the pleasure boat suggest that he is more important and possibly more complicated than he first appeared.
• The unnamed young Taoist, likely connected to the Yin Temple Sect, is alarmed by Shen Cheng’s death and by his master’s new disciple. His jealousy and suspicion hint at hidden secrets or fear that his master has discovered something about him.
• Zheng Yingci feels fortunate to have gained Liu Chen as a master and sees the relationship as a powerful opportunity. He immediately hopes Liu’s “lesser thief” might be Su Ziji, revealing his hostility toward Su and willingness to exploit his new connections.
• Liu Chen appears authoritative, politically powerful, and ruthless. Although he treats Zheng with patience because the disciple will be useful, his hatred of demons and willingness to order their execution expose his rigid worldview.
• Cao Yiyan, though absent, is established as a capable senior disciple trusted to handle the fox demon.

Significant Themes

• Changing destiny and rebirth: The chapter centers on beings who can alter their fate, become reborn, or escape attempts to control them. Liu’s lost brand suggests that destiny can be disrupted by forces beyond individual planning.
• Hidden identities: Sun’s true background, the fox’s human disguise, and the possibility of Confucian demons all emphasize that appearances cannot be trusted.
• Power and institutional authority: Examination success, family reputation, court positions, and Taoist sect affiliations determine how characters move through society. Official recognition is presented as nearly essential for influence.
• Prejudice and demonization: Liu’s blanket hatred of demons—especially those who assimilate into human society—reveals the danger of ideological certainty. His distinction between acceptable and unacceptable demons reflects a rigid human-centered order.
• Ambition and manipulation: Zheng seeks protection and influence through Liu, while Liu views his disciples and enemies strategically. Personal relationships are closely tied to power and usefulness.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Sun Buhan: Their friendly drinking conversation establishes mutual courtesy and potential friendship, while Sun’s invitation creates a future connection between them.
• The young Taoist and his master: The young man’s reaction to his master’s orders reveals insecurity and possible rivalry with the newly accepted disciple.
• Liu Chen and Zheng Yingci: Liu instructs and warns Zheng while subtly testing his loyalty. Zheng eagerly aligns himself with Liu’s anti-demon principles.
• Liu Chen and Cao Yiyan: Though Cao is not present, Liu’s message to him shows the hierarchy and coordinated action within the Yin Temple Sect.
• Liu Chen and the fox demon: Their unseen conflict is central to the chapter. Liu believes the fox has interfered with his plans and now seeks its death, escalating the larger struggle between humans and demons.

Chapter Summary: “Confiscating the Household”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In April, the Hu father and eldest son return from their rural estate to Linhua County. The son is disappointed at missing the Prefectural Examination, but his father encourages him to focus on his studies and use the family’s wealth to secure excellent teachers.
• The eldest son has become unusually ambitious after comparing himself with his official cousin, whose status, beauty, and upbringing far surpass those of the Hu family. He realizes that passing the higher examinations—especially becoming a Provincial Graduate—would be necessary to secure a prestigious marriage and elevate the family.
• Master Hu subtly urges his son to grow closer to their widowed aunt and orphaned cousin. Since the aunt’s family possesses wealth and powerful official connections, and the cousin has no brother or heir, he hopes his son might eventually inherit their estate and connections.
• Meanwhile, Daoist Cao Yiyan investigates the sudden death of Shen Cheng, his trusted subordinate and the “Living Array Core” stationed near Linhua County. Shen Cheng had been part of a broader effort to eliminate remnants of the former dynasty and exploit the region’s weakened Dragon Vein.
• Using divination, Cao determines that Shen Cheng’s death is connected to the Hu Family and to a fox-related disturbance at the Dragon Palace. He concludes that the Hu Family is involved with the Fox Tribe.
• Cao arrives at the Hu Residence and presents an official warrant, falsely accusing the family of harboring the outlaw Liu Qi. When Master Hu protests his innocence, Cao recognizes the “stink of fox” upon him, exposing his true identity.
• Cao orders the entire household arrested. Patrol Inspectorate officers seize the family, servants, and dependents, while Cao pursues someone attempting to escape elsewhere in the connected residences. The chapter ends with a thunderous crash, implying a violent confrontation.

Character Developments

• Hu Family’s eldest son: His earlier frustration over missing the examination shifts into serious ambition. His admiration for his official cousin motivates him to pursue scholarly success and a higher social rank. He also accepts his father’s plan to cultivate a relationship with their wealthy relatives.
• Master Hu: Revealed as calculating and socially ambitious. He wants to use his son’s education and marriage prospects to transform the Hu family from wealthy landlords into local gentry. Though he covets his brother’s estate, he prefers securing it through family influence rather than crude confiscation.
• Cao Yiyan: Becomes increasingly enraged and ruthless after Shen Cheng’s death. His concern is not only personal loss but also the collapse of a larger political and supernatural operation. He uses official authority and fabricated charges to punish the Hu Family.
• Hu Yingguang: Initially presents himself as a respectable household head, but his fear and physical reaction under questioning reveal his fox nature and his family’s hidden allegiance.
• Shen Cheng: Though already dead, his importance is clarified: he was a powerful subordinate transformed into a magical “Living Array Core” to support the Dragon Vein operation.

Significant Themes

• Social ambition and status: Wealth alone cannot elevate the Hu family; scholarly rank and official connections are portrayed as the true measures of prestige.
• Family strategy and inheritance: The Hu family’s relationships are shaped by calculations involving marriage, property, heirs, and political influence.
• Hidden identities and exposure: The Hu family’s respectable appearance collapses when Cao identifies their fox origins.
• Political purges and historical legitimacy: Great Zheng’s campaign against former-dynasty remnants is framed as a controlled effort to prevent rebellion while avoiding the appearance of indiscriminate persecution.
• Power and justice: Official warrants and legal authority are used as instruments of political revenge rather than impartial justice.
• Human–supernatural entanglement: The chapter connects local wealth, fox spirits, Dragon Veins, and imperial political struggles into a single conflict.

Character Interactions

• Master Hu and his eldest son: They form a shared plan to pursue examination success and cultivate ties with the aunt and cousin. Their conversation reveals both affection and calculated family ambition.
• Cao Yiyan and the Hu family: Cao confronts them under the guise of legal authority, but his true motive is retaliation for Shen Cheng’s death and the disruption of his larger scheme.
• Cao Yiyan and Hu Yingguang: Hu Yingguang’s plea of innocence is immediately undermined when Cao detects his fox nature. Cao refuses discussion and sends the entire household for arrest.
• Cao Yiyan and the fleeing figure: Cao identifies and pursues someone attempting to escape within the connected Hu residences, setting up the chapter’s concluding confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Backlash”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Hu Family’s Second Branch, Third Aunt Hu senses that something is wrong despite the calm evening. She summons Hu Xiyan to learn what happened during her trip to Coiling Dragon Lake.
• Xiyan reports that the Dragon Palace has reopened. She explains that the Dragon Lord was likely the former Demon Emperor, whose brief reign ended mysteriously. Third Aunt Hu concludes that the Dragon Palace’s reopening could affect the entire world, but believes the young Dragon Maiden lacks the power and support to pose an immediate threat. The Hu Family decides to send her a gift rather than visit personally.
• Before they can act, Xiyan detects the forbidden power of the Dao Register Office approaching. Third Aunt Hu, Xiyan, and Hu Xingzhu flee immediately, leaving behind paper substitutes.
• Cao Yiyan and Patrol Inspectorate constables break into the residence to arrest the Hu women for allegedly colluding with bandits. Cao quickly realizes they are demons when his attack destroys only burning paper figures.
• Using the Foxes’ lingering aura, Cao attempts a thunder-based tracking and extermination technique. However, the spell rebounds violently. His jade Dragon Pendant is destroyed while shielding him, he suffers serious internal injuries, and one constable is killed by the lightning.
• The Hu residence catches fire. Cao, concealing his weakness, uses a command token from the Governor-General’s Office to order the Patrol Inspectorate to pursue the fleeing Foxes.

Character Developments

• Third Aunt Hu is shown as cautious, politically perceptive, and experienced in managing threats to the Hu Family. She understands the significance of the Dragon Palace but avoids overreacting, choosing a measured diplomatic response.
• Hu Xiyan demonstrates growing maturity and awareness of major supernatural and political events. She accurately reports the Dragon Palace’s reopening and recognizes the possible importance of the Dragon Lord’s history.
• Cao Yiyan initially appears confident and authoritative, but the backlash exposes the limits of his power. He is injured, loses the Dragon Pendant, and becomes suspicious that his master may be testing or doubting him.
• The Hu women prove far more capable than the authorities expect. They detect the Dao Register Office’s suppression technique in advance and escape before being captured.
• Constable Tan is practical and obedient, quickly accepting Cao’s authority and managing the aftermath, including the promise of compensation for the constable killed.

Significant Themes

• Backlash and the danger of overconfidence: Cao’s attempt to destroy the Foxes turns against him, showing that supernatural power carries risks when used recklessly or against unusually protected opponents.
• Political uncertainty and shifting power: The reopening of the Dragon Palace may reshape relations among humans, demons, and supernatural factions. The Hu Family responds cautiously because the Dragon Maiden’s influence remains uncertain.
• Appearance versus reality: The Fox women seem vulnerable but evade capture through prepared substitutes and hidden abilities. Cao appears powerful, yet the backlash leaves him badly injured.
• Institutional authority and corruption of power: Cao relies on official tokens and the Governor-General’s authority to compel cooperation, while the constables follow orders even amid confusion and danger.
• The return of the past: The Dragon Palace and the legacy of the former Demon Emperor suggest that old forces and unresolved history are re-emerging.

Character Interactions

• Third Aunt Hu questions Xiyan about Coiling Dragon Lake, and Xiyan reports the Dragon Palace’s reopening and seeks guidance.
• The two women discuss the Dragon Maiden’s weakness, the vanished Dragon Lord, and the Hu Family’s decision to send a diplomatic gift.
• Xiyan alerts Third Aunt Hu to the approaching Dao Register Office, prompting the women’s escape.
• Cao Yiyan confronts the supposed Hu women, only to discover that they are paper decoys.
• After the thunder rite backfires, the constables support Cao, report the death of their companion, and obey his order to organize a pursuit.
• Cao ends the chapter injured and distrustful, wondering whether his master deliberately sent him into a dangerous mission.

Chapter Summary: “Suspicion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Hu residence in Linhua County suddenly erupts into an unnatural fire. Although the flames are enormous and resist water, they remain confined to the Hu estate and do not spread to neighboring homes. This leads onlookers to suspect that it is “Heavenly Fire,” punishment for some offense against Heaven.
• While the city watches the strange blaze, constables escort the Hu family members to the yamen. At the same time, Cao Yiyan opens the city gates and leads more than twenty riders in pursuit of three fleeing fox demons.
• Cao announces a reward for anyone who captures or kills the fugitives, but he is badly injured from his earlier confrontation with the foxes. He conceals the fact that he is coughing blood and continues the pursuit through the rain.
• The three foxes flee in a severely wounded state. One of them, Little Fox, collapses from exhaustion, forcing Big Fox to carry her. The Fox who possesses the Rosewood Pendant realizes that the enemy is primarily targeting her and proposes that they separate so the other two can escape.
• The Fox believes her survival depends on reaching Coiling Dragon Lake. Big Fox angrily vows to demand an explanation from those who attacked them, refusing to accept that Green Hill can be treated as powerless.
• Cao Yiyan detects that the foxes have split up and divides his forces, giving one officer a tracking talisman while pursuing the more dangerous route himself. His obsession with capturing the Fox is driven not only by his orders but also by his desire to obtain whatever extraordinary power or treasure enabled her to injure him.
• At Coiling Dragon Lake, Su Ziji and Ye Buhui remain aboard a rented boat while preparing for the prefectural examinations. Su reads aloud from a Go-related manual, and Ye finds that listening to him makes difficult ideas unusually easy to understand.
• Su secretly checks his progress in the Coiling Dragon Heart Method and discovers that he is stuck at 999/1000 experience. He suspects that advancing may require him to gather “demonic nature” and transform it into “flood-dragon nature,” though he has no idea how a human could accomplish this.
• Ye Buhui finally asks Su about the Dragon Lord and the events surrounding the painted pleasure boat, which had caught fire and been caught in a storm. She is troubled by the possibility that what happened was not a dream and wants a truthful explanation.

Character Developments

• Cao Yiyan is revealed to be seriously injured but determined. His pursuit becomes personal, motivated by both loyalty to his master’s orders and his desire to understand or seize the Fox’s mysterious power.
• The Fox demonstrates self-sacrifice and strategic awareness. Although she is the most badly wounded and has lost a century of cultivation, she tries to divert danger away from her companions and relies on her heightened spiritual senses and the Rosewood Pendant.
• Big Fox shows fierce loyalty toward her family, carrying Little Fox when necessary and expressing anger at the attack on Green Hill.
• Su Ziji continues to conceal his unusual cultivation and the benefits he gained from the Dragon Palace. His reading appears to possess a subtle instructional or experiential power, and his stalled cultivation leaves him uncertain about his next step.
• Ye Buhui shifts from suspicion and thriftiness to open concern and direct questioning. She can no longer dismiss the supernatural events surrounding Su as imagination or coincidence.

Significant Themes

• Suspicion and hidden truths: The strange fire, the foxes’ attack, Su’s cultivation, and the Dragon Lord’s involvement all leave characters questioning what truly happened.
• Pursuit and persecution: The foxes are hunted despite their unclear guilt, raising the possibility that they have been targeted for possessing valuable or dangerous powers.
• Sacrifice and loyalty: The Fox risks herself to protect the other foxes, while Big Fox refuses to abandon Little Fox.
• Human and demonic identities: Su’s difficulty progressing because he lacks “demonic nature” points toward the novel’s wider tension between human cultivation and supernatural transformation.
• Knowledge as power: Su’s reading grants unusual benefits, while both he and Ye Buhui seek understanding as a means of navigating the increasingly dangerous supernatural world.

Character Interactions

• Cao Yiyan commands the constables and military officers, dividing them to pursue the separated foxes while concealing his physical weakness.
• The three foxes discuss their injuries and survival strategy, with the Fox persuading Big Fox to separate for the sake of the group.
• Su and Ye Buhui share a quieter but increasingly suspicious relationship: she brings him tea, questions his strange effectiveness as a teacher, and finally confronts him about the Dragon Lord and the boat incident.
• The chapter ends with Ye Buhui demanding clarity from Su, setting up a likely revelation about the supernatural events at the Dragon Palace and on the painted pleasure boat.

Chapter Summary: “Rushing Fox”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji confirms to Ye Buhui that the events at the Dragon Palace were real, not merely nightmares. The defeated chess players who escaped the great hall were stripped of their lifespans, Fortune, futures, relationships, and descendants by Against-the-Wind.
• Zheng Yingci and Zhang Modong survived but likely lost their memories. Su Ziji warns Ye Buhui that they may still resent the survivors, especially Zheng Yingci, whose potential opportunity in the Dragon Palace Su Ziji may have unknowingly taken through his rebirth.
• A rematch of the chess competition is announced because so many contestants died. The authorities need the event repeated to make the results legitimate and investigate what happened.
• Su Ziji plays one chess game with Ye Buhui. Her recent enlightenment has dramatically improved her skill, allowing her to defeat him decisively.
• Ye Buhui encourages Su Ziji to pursue chess, believing he could become a Chess Sage, but he explains that chess is not his priority. He intends to focus on his scholarly examinations and the Coiling Dragon Secret Art, which offers greater benefits for cultivation.
• When Ye Buhui asks for another game, Su Ziji refuses and retreats to his room to study.
• While looking out over the lake, Su Ziji notices a strange white figure racing across the water. A moment later, a small, badly burned white fox appears at his window, pleading for help.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes more cautious and perceptive. He recognizes that resentment can arise from stolen opportunities even when no deliberate harm was intended, particularly in Zheng Yingci’s case.
• He also clarifies his priorities: although he has gained significant chess ability through the Coiling Dragon Secret Art, he lacks the sustained interest and dedication needed to pursue the Chess Path seriously.
• Ye Buhui demonstrates rapid growth in chess talent, discipline, and confidence. Her ability to listen to Su Ziji’s warnings shows her trust in him, while her eagerness for another game reveals her increasing enthusiasm—and near-obsession—with chess.
• Ye Buhui briefly feels insecure when comparing herself with Su Ziji, wondering whether women are inherently inferior, but his sincere encouragement reassures her.

Significant Themes

• The cost of opportunity: Advancement often comes at someone else’s expense, and those who lose out may develop hatred even without fully understanding why.
• Hidden consequences and vigilance: The Dragon Palace’s events have lasting effects beyond the survivors’ apparent nightmares, emphasizing that supernatural trials leave real scars.
• Specialization and personal purpose: Talent does not determine one’s path by itself. Su Ziji acknowledges his chess aptitude but chooses scholarship and cultivation because they align better with his goals.
• Trust and encouragement: Ye Buhui accepts Su Ziji’s advice, while his praise helps her overcome insecurity and continue developing.
• The arrival of the unknown: The mysterious fox introduces a new supernatural threat or opportunity and shifts the chapter from reflection and comedy toward suspense.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji gives Ye Buhui a serious warning about the Dragon Palace survivors and the danger of hidden resentment.
• Their chess match displays a playful but competitive relationship: Ye Buhui defeats him enthusiastically, while Su Ziji humorously refuses a rematch.
• Su Ziji reassures Ye Buhui that she has the greater potential in chess, strengthening her confidence.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji encountering the injured white fox, whose pleading presence suggests that he is about to become involved in another mysterious incident.

Chapter Summary: “Expulsion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• An injured white fox flees into Su Ziji’s cabin. He discovers that she has been badly burned by Heavenly Fire and is covered in wounds.
• Su Ziji offers her shelter, food, and water. He treats her gently, promises not to reveal her presence, and decides to claim she is merely his pet if anyone discovers her.
• The fox appears intelligent and wary. She stops Su Ziji from leaving to fetch bandages, suggesting that she does not want him to attract attention. She hides beneath the bed and accepts only a small amount of water.
• Meanwhile, Cao Yiyan reaches the outskirts of the prefectural city after pursuing the Fox Tribe. His horse collapses from exhaustion, and he vomits blood, showing the physical cost of the chase.
• Cao realizes that the tracking aura he placed on the fox has vanished. He concludes that the foxes split up and that one of them may possess a magical treasure capable of concealing or removing his tracking mark.
• Believing the fox has entered the prefectural city, Cao prepares to cast a spell and search for it. However, Qian Yun interrupts him and invites him to stay at her Manchun House branch outside the city.
• A young nobleman—previously the person who helped Su Ziji during his examination—warns Cao not to enter the city or use sorcery there. A mysterious middle-aged official reinforces the warning, explaining that combat and magical searches could disturb the city’s Dragon Aura and endanger civilians.
• The officials emphasize that the Imperial Examinations take priority and that they are acting under imperial orders. Cao reluctantly withdraws rather than risk confronting the imperial authorities.
• After Cao leaves, the young man and the middle-aged official reveal that their real mission is to locate the Crown Prince Bloodline. They also imply that Daoist officials are being manipulated as tools in a larger political struggle involving the former dynasty’s imperial clan.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji is shown to be compassionate, cautious, and resourceful. Though he suspects the fox is a spirit or demon, he chooses to protect her without demanding explanations. His willingness to hide her suggests growing sympathy toward supernatural beings and outsiders.
• Little Fox appears intelligent, grateful, and highly guarded. Despite her injuries, she remains alert and avoids drawing attention. Her ability to flee Cao’s tracking technique suggests unusual powers or possession of a magical treasure.
• Cao Yiyan becomes increasingly furious and obsessive in his pursuit of the Fox Tribe. His exhaustion, injury, and frustration reveal both the difficulty of the hunt and his determination to destroy every fox involved. However, he is forced to restrain himself before imperial authority.
• Qian Yun is presented as outwardly flattering but politically capable. Her Manchun House is actually connected to an important Gray-Clad Guard stronghold, showing that she possesses influence beyond her apparent role as a hostess or businesswoman.
• The young nobleman is revealed to be an influential official with concealed killing intent. Although amiable in manner, he is firm, politically confident, and willing to oppose Cao in defense of the court’s mission.
• The middle-aged official appears even more powerful and mysterious, to the point that Cao cannot fully perceive him. His authority and warning help force Cao’s retreat.

Significant Themes

• Compassion toward the supernatural: Su Ziji’s decision to shelter the injured fox contrasts sharply with Cao Yiyan’s desire to eradicate the Fox Tribe.
• Appearance versus reality: The fox may look like an ordinary animal but is intelligent and possibly magical; Qian Yun appears to run a pleasure house but is tied to an intelligence or military network; the young man seems mild but carries dangerous authority.
• Pursuit and concealment: The foxes’ ability to split up and hide, combined with magical tracking and countermeasures, drives the tension of the chapter.
• Law versus personal vengeance: Cao claims to be hunting a demon for justice, but his rage makes the pursuit appear personal and excessive. The officials invoke public safety and imperial law to restrain him.
• Political intrigue: The chapter broadens the conflict beyond the Fox Tribe, revealing a court-backed search for the Crown Prince Bloodline and suggesting that Daoist institutions are being used in a larger power struggle.
• The tension between official factions: Daoist officials and imperial authorities serve the same state but have different interests, creating distrust and competition.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Little Fox: Their interaction is gentle and tentative. Su treats her like a frightened animal while recognizing her intelligence, and she communicates through squeaks, gestures, and restraint. Their early bond is based on mutual caution and protection.
• Cao Yiyan and Qian Yun: Qian Yun uses hospitality and flattery to delay or redirect Cao. He recognizes her influence but declines her invitation.
• Cao Yiyan and the young nobleman: The nobleman blocks Cao’s entry into the city and openly challenges his authority. Cao realizes that acting against him could provoke the imperial court.
• Cao Yiyan and the middle-aged official: The official gives a formal justification for stopping Cao, emphasizing the danger to civilians and the Imperial Examinations. His presence reinforces that Cao is outmatched politically and possibly spiritually.
• The two officials: Their private exchange reveals their shared objective and their willingness to manipulate Daoist officials for political purposes.

Chapter Summary: “Sharp Fox Fangs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji’s boat stops near the prefectural city, but he chooses to remain aboard rather than spend money in town.
• He continues studying the Four Books and Five Classics, earning experience points through the system despite his concern that the Coiling Dragon Heart Method is stuck at 999/1000 experience.
• Little Fox eats the meat pies and chicken leg he prepared, despite initially acting picky and refusing food.
• While Su Ziji reads aloud, Little Fox appears to gain insight from his recitation. After he falls asleep, she mysteriously consumes the remaining food and reveals sharp fox fangs.
• Su Ziji awakens in what appears to be a restored version of the Dragon Lord’s Water Palace. He realizes he is probably dreaming, though the experience feels unusually vivid.
• Little Dragon Girl greets him as her teacher and asks him to continue teaching her the Coiling Dragon Secret Art.
• She remembers only a small portion of the previous lesson, but Su Ziji reassures her and recites the text seven more times.
• The recitation grants Su Ziji another experience point, raising the Heart Method to 999/1000, but he still cannot force a breakthrough.
• Little Dragon Girl reveals that she is hungry because few people now offer sacrifices to the Water Palace. Su Ziji instinctively summons the wine and food from his room into the dream-palace, confirming a connection between his surroundings and the Water Palace.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji remains diligent and resourceful, continuing to study despite frustration with his stalled cultivation progress. He also demonstrates growing responsibility toward Little Dragon Girl by honoring his teaching promise and responding compassionately to her hunger.
• Little Fox displays increasingly unusual behavior and intelligence. She learns from Su Ziji’s recitations, watches him intently, eats secretly, and reveals sharp fangs, hinting that she is more than an ordinary fox.
• Little Dragon Girl shows remarkable compatibility with the Coiling Dragon Secret Art, remembering and comprehending part of it after only limited instruction. However, she is also vulnerable and neglected, suffering from hunger as the Water Palace loses worshippers.

Significant Themes

• Persistence and gradual progress: Su Ziji continues studying even when advancement seems painfully slow, reflecting the idea that repeated effort can eventually produce a breakthrough.
• Hidden spiritual potential: Both Little Fox and Little Dragon Girl demonstrate abilities beyond their outward appearances, suggesting that intelligence, cultivation, and supernatural identities are being concealed or gradually revealed.
• Teacher-student responsibility: Su Ziji feels obligated to keep his promise to Little Dragon Girl and recognizes that teaching her is not merely a way to gain experience.
• Decline of old powers: The Water Palace’s lack of sacrifices shows that forgotten or declining supernatural beings may suffer as human belief fades.
• Reality and dreams: The chapter blurs the boundary between dream and waking life, especially when Su Ziji’s real food appears inside the Water Palace.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji observes Little Fox’s refined but peculiar eating habits, while Little Fox silently listens to his reading and appears to absorb its meaning.
• Su Ziji and Little Dragon Girl interact as teacher and student. He tests her memory, encourages her when she struggles, and recites the secret art to help her comprehend it.
• When Little Dragon Girl admits she is hungry, Su Ziji responds sympathetically and provides food, strengthening their bond and revealing his growing connection to the Water Palace.

Chapter Summary: “The Hypocrisy of Adults”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji dreams that the Little Dragon Girl eats the meat pie and chicken leg he left on the table, suggesting the dream is connected to his memories.
• After waking, he discovers that the food is actually missing. He initially suspects the Little Fox, but a knock from Ye Buhui interrupts him.
• Ye Buhui arrives unusually early before the second round of the chess tournament and suspects Su Ziji may be hiding someone in his cabin.
• Su Ziji jokingly claims that a “fox spirit” is inside and introduces her to the injured white fox, Little White.
• Ye Buhui notices the fox’s wounds and criticizes Su Ziji for not treating them. Unlike Su Ziji, she quickly earns the fox’s trust and considers taking her back to Linhua County.
• Su Ziji remains wary of the fox’s mysterious origins and suggests Ye Buhui ask the fox herself later whether she wants to go with them.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui leave the boat, buy flatbreads, and travel to the chess hall for the tournament’s second round.
• They meet Zheng Yingci and Zhang Modong, two survivors of the previous incident. Although they supposedly lost their memories, they behave normally and warmly toward Ye Buhui.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes increasingly suspicious of the Little Fox, recognizing that her ability to walk on water and rapid healing indicate she may not be an ordinary animal. He also continues concealing his concerns from Ye Buhui.
• Ye Buhui: Shows her bold, curious, and emotionally direct nature by investigating Su Ziji’s room and immediately bonding with the fox. Her protective feelings lead her to want to adopt Little White.
• Little Fox: Demonstrates intelligence, unusual healing abilities, and selective trust. She is wary of Su Ziji but responds warmly to Ye Buhui, while her lowered gaze suggests she may understand more than she reveals.
• Zheng Yingci and Zhang Modong: Act as though they have no memory of the previous incident and greet Su Ziji and Ye Buhui without hostility, raising questions about whether their apparent normality is genuine.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The missing food, the fox’s supernatural traits, and the survivors’ seemingly normal behavior all suggest that events are not what they appear to be.
• Trust and suspicion: Su Ziji remains cautious of the fox, while Ye Buhui trusts her instinctively. Their contrasting responses highlight different approaches to uncertainty.
• Adult hypocrisy: The chapter ends by suggesting that adults are skilled at hiding their true feelings. Zheng Yingci and Zhang Modong appear friendly despite potentially having reasons to resent Ye Buhui.
• Human relationships with the supernatural: Ye Buhui treats the fox with compassion, while Su Ziji worries about the danger of bringing an unknown creature into their lives.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui exchange playful but suspicious remarks, with Ye Buhui repeatedly trying to uncover what he is hiding.
• Ye Buhui tenderly comforts and pets the injured Little Fox, forming an immediate bond that contrasts with the fox’s guarded attitude toward Su Ziji.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui discuss whether the fox should accompany them, though Su Ziji deliberately postpones the decision.
• At the chess hall, Su Ziji greets Zheng Yingci and Zhang Modong politely, while Ye Buhui silently questions the sincerity of their friendly behavior.