Chapter Summaries

Shi Mingda overheard martial artists discuss the Brahma Sect and learned that its members had bought ingredients including blood osmanthus, which he planned to report to his second uncle. Meanwhile, Su Ziji dressed in black and opened a concealed passage beneath an abandoned building.

• Shi Mingda listened as martial artists debated the greatest fighters and accused the Brahma Sect of copying other schools’ techniques.
• A man claimed he had seen a Brahma Sect monk ask Steward Wu of Prince Qi’s Residence to buy medicinal ingredients, including blood osmanthus, and Shi Mingda memorized the list.
• Shi Mingda returned to the bookshop, checked its accounts, and learned that his second uncle had already gone to bed.
• Su Ziji changed into black clothes, took his sword, and went to an abandoned building.
• Su Ziji tapped a pattern on the floor, opening a hidden passage connected to the outside.

Chapter Summary: Eternal Spring Garden

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji escapes Duke of Dai’s Residence through a hidden passage dating from the previous dynasty. The passage leads to a well in a nearby courtyard, allowing him to bypass surveillance.
• Using his increasingly powerful Wind Riding technique, he travels across rooftops undetected and reaches Eternal Spring Garden, a secluded royal residence.
• Su Ziji reflects on the recent growth of martial and Daoist abilities among cultivators. He worries that, if the gap between extraordinary individuals and ordinary people continues to widen, powerful cultivators may eventually challenge or overpower the government.
• After entering Eternal Spring Garden, Su Ziji searches for the Medicine Treasury but becomes frustrated by the garden’s enormous, unassigned layout.
• He then encounters Huo Wuyong, an old acquaintance and a Daoist responsible for refining elixirs for the emperor. Realizing that Huo Wuyong may lead him directly to the treasury, Su Ziji follows him stealthily.
• Huo Wuyong orders the Daoist boys accompanying him to prepare the alchemy room and warns the garden eunuch to prevent anyone from entering.
• When the furnace fire is found extinguished, Huo Wuyong initially orders a Daoist boy to retrieve ingredients for Rejuvenation Elixirs from the basement. He changes his mind and decides to inspect the Medicine Treasury himself, concerned that something may have gone wrong.
• Su Ziji follows Huo Wuyong to a concealed basement beneath the hall. Just as Huo Wuyong is about to descend, he senses something and turns sharply toward the hidden Su Ziji.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates greater mastery of Wind Riding and exceptional stealth, moving through guarded areas without detection. His growing power concerns him rather than satisfying him, reinforcing his sense of responsibility and political awareness. He also shows patience and adaptability by abandoning his initial search strategy and using Huo Wuyong as a guide.
• Huo Wuyong: Appears stern, guarded, and highly cautious. His decision to inspect the treasury personally suggests both responsibility and suspicion that the medicines may have been tampered with or mishandled. His sharp reaction at the end indicates strong awareness and possibly powerful perception.
• The Daoist boys and eunuch: Serve as Huo Wuyong’s assistants and subordinates. Their interactions establish the strict secrecy surrounding the alchemy hall and medicinal supplies.

Significant Themes

• The danger of unequal power: Su Ziji fears that the rise of supernatural abilities will create an unbridgeable divide between cultivators and ordinary people, potentially destabilizing political authority.
• Secrecy and hidden routes: The secret passage, concealed basement, restricted alchemy hall, and Su Ziji’s stealth all emphasize hidden knowledge and covert movement.
• Power and responsibility: Su Ziji’s concern about the political consequences of cultivation contrasts with the more immediate pursuit of medicines and personal objectives.
• Caution and surveillance: Both Su Ziji and Huo Wuyong rely on observation, suspicion, and concealment. The chapter builds tension through their parallel attempts to remain undetected.

Character Interactions

• The garden eunuch obsequiously reassures Huo Wuyong that the residence will be kept clean and that no unauthorized person will enter.
• Huo Wuyong firmly instructs the eunuch to restrict access to the alchemy hall, threatening to report any disruption to the emperor.
• Huo Wuyong commands the Daoist boys to prepare the furnace and gather ingredients, but then overrides the order and chooses to inspect the treasury himself.
• Su Ziji does not directly confront Huo Wuyong; instead, he secretly follows him, turning Huo Wuyong’s movements into the key to locating the Medicine Treasury. The chapter ends as Huo Wuyong appears to detect his presence.

Chapter Summary: This Is a Great Demon

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji secretly follows Huo Wuyong into the basement beneath Eternal Spring Garden, where the hidden Medicine Treasury is stored.
• He memorizes the dangerous path through the basement’s concealed defenses and avoids triggering them.
• Using Hidden Force, Su Ziji silently destroys the sealed silver jars containing medicines needed to refine the Great Restoration Elixir. He also destroys several unidentified stored items to ensure nothing useful remains.
• Huo Wuyong notices nothing until he leaves the basement and detects a powerful medicinal smell. Returning inside, he discovers that every jar—including some he personally sealed—has inexplicably rotted.
• Realizing someone must have sabotaged the Medicine Treasury, Huo Wuyong raises the alarm and pursues the fleeing Su Ziji.
• The guards surround Eternal Spring Garden, but Su Ziji repeatedly vanishes and evades them.
• Huo Wuyong activates the garden’s array with the command “Manifest,” forcing Su Ziji’s hidden form into view as he attempts to escape over the wall.
• Huo Wuyong attacks with a thunderous sword technique. Although the attacker appears to be struck, only a nearly charred feather remains.
• The feather radiates an intense Great Demon aura, leading Huo Wuyong to conclude that a Great Demon has infiltrated the capital. He orders that the discovery be reported to the emperor.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates careful planning, stealth, confidence, and considerable power. He successfully destroys the Medicine Treasury while remaining undetected at close range and escapes using concealment and a transformation or substitute technique involving a feather.
• Huo Wuyong initially trusts his own judgment and remains unaware of the intruder, but his confidence collapses when he finds the Treasury ruined. He becomes increasingly alarmed, first blaming Liu Zhan, then recognizing deliberate sabotage, and finally panicking at the evidence of a Great Demon.
• Huo Wuyong’s actions unintentionally assist Su Ziji: by bringing him to the basement, he reveals the Treasury’s location. Su Ziji humorously regards him as a “benefactor,” unaware that Huo Wuyong would be furious to hear this.

Significant Themes

• Stealth versus vigilance: Su Ziji’s ability to remain invisible even near a cultivator highlights the effectiveness of preparation and concealment.
• Irony and mistaken assumptions: Huo Wuyong first blames improper storage and later interprets the escape evidence as proof of a Great Demon, while the actual saboteur remains unknown to him.
• Power and deception: The destroyed feather creates a misleading impression, allowing Su Ziji to escape while shifting suspicion toward a powerful demonic intruder.
• Consequences of hidden conflict: A secret act of sabotage quickly becomes a major political and supernatural emergency once the authorities believe a Great Demon has entered the capital.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji covertly shadows Huo Wuyong and imitates his route through the basement.
• Huo Wuyong unknowingly leads Su Ziji to the Medicine Treasury and later pursues him with the help of guards and armored soldiers.
• The guards report the elusive thief’s movements, while Huo Wuyong uses the garden array and his sword technique to expose and attack the escaping figure.
• The chapter ends with Huo Wuyong and the guards interpreting the feather’s aura as evidence of a Great Demon, setting up a likely investigation and broader alarm.

Chapter Summary: Illusion Pearl

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Jiang has gradually adapted to life in Duke of Dai’s Residence. Although she is occasionally reminded to observe etiquette, she enjoys unusual freedom and often walks through the residence at night.
• While speaking with the guards at the inner courtyard, Luo Jiang learns that the Duke is respected and that the guards view her as an honored guest. She overhears one guard admiring her, but ignores the conversation.
• She secretly climbs over the inner courtyard wall and spies on Duke of Dai in the Book of Documents room. He is awake late at night, painting, suggesting that his artistic skill has improved significantly.
• Later, Su Ziji returns secretly through an underground passage after an unseen confrontation or mission. He is severely injured, coughing up blood and suffering dizziness. He recalls Huo Wuyong’s lightning sphere and begins to suspect that genuine magical treasures may exist in reality.
• In the Imperial Palace, the Emperor receives a report from Princess Xinping, who has been sent to Xinping Temple. The report says she has become more disciplined, rarely receives visitors, and sincerely recites Daoist scriptures each day.
• The Emperor is pleased by her improvement but also feels guilty that his daughter must live in what he perceives as hardship. He decides to send her another valuable gift, though Zhao Eunuch reminds him that he recently gave her Purple Dawn Tea.
• The Emperor then asks Zhao Eunuch to think of another precious item suitable for Xinping.

Character Developments

• Luo Jiang is shown to be observant, independent, and physically capable. Her nighttime explorations and effortless wall-climbing reveal her confidence and martial skill. She remains cautious, however, choosing to observe Duke of Dai without confronting him.
• Su Ziji is revealed to be involved in secret activities and to have suffered serious injuries. His encounter with the lightning sphere has shaken his understanding of the world, causing him to question whether magical artifacts are real.
• Duke of Dai appears increasingly talented at painting and remains awake late into the night working on it. His private artistic activity may conceal a deeper purpose.
• The Emperor displays renewed affection and concern for Princess Xinping. His changing mood and apparent memory lapse suggest growing age or mental decline, while his desire to compensate Xinping reveals paternal guilt.
• Zhao Eunuch continues to act as the Emperor’s practical and tactful attendant. He understands the reality of Xinping’s comfortable conditions but carefully supports the Emperor’s emotional interpretation.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and secret activities: Luo Jiang’s surveillance and Su Ziji’s covert return through the underground passage emphasize that important matters are occurring beneath the residence’s calm exterior.
• The boundary between reality and magic: Su Ziji’s shock at Huo Wuyong’s lightning sphere introduces the possibility that supernatural objects or powers exist in the real world.
• Appearance versus reality: Xinping is described as living austerely, although Zhao Eunuch knows her temple is luxurious. Similarly, Duke of Dai’s painting may be more than an innocent pastime.
• Family affection and guilt: The Emperor’s concern for Xinping shows that political punishment has not erased his love for her. His impulse to send gifts is partly an attempt to ease his own remorse.
• Power, surveillance, and restricted freedom: Luo Jiang enjoys freedom but still moves cautiously, while Xinping’s life is comfortable yet controlled by exile and limits on visitors.

Character Interactions

• Luo Jiang casually questions the residence guards, who treat her respectfully because of her connection to a marquis’s residence and the Duke’s favorable attitude toward her.
• The older guard reprimands the younger guard for admiring Luo Jiang and reminds him that she is socially beyond his reach.
• Luo Jiang secretly watches Duke of Dai paint but does not interact with him directly.
• Su Ziji’s internal reflection connects his injuries to Huo Wuyong’s mysterious lightning ability, indicating a significant unseen conflict between them.
• Zhao Eunuch mediates between the Emperor and the reports about Xinping, carefully presenting information and steering the Emperor toward sending her another reward.

Chapter Summary: “Redeem His Crime Through Merit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Eunuch helps the Emperor choose gifts for Princess Xinping, suggesting a music-playing treasure box and a Pearl Shirt from the imperial treasury. The Emperor is unusually cheerful while discussing them.
• Huo Wuyong suddenly requests an audience late at night, causing the Emperor and Zhao Eunuch to suspect that something has gone wrong with the Great Restoration Elixir.
• Huo Wuyong arrives disheveled and kneels in confession, revealing that a Great Demon broke into Eternal Spring Garden and destroyed all the medicinal materials reserved for refining the Great Restoration Elixir, as well as some materials for the Lesser Restoration Elixir.
• The Emperor is devastated by the news and collapses. Zhao Eunuch catches him, administers emergency medicine after testing it himself, and summons the imperial physicians.
• The physicians determine that the Emperor’s health has deteriorated severely and that he relies on restoration elixirs to remain alive. They predict that he will awaken soon.
• After regaining consciousness, the Emperor insists on hearing Huo Wuyong’s full report.
• The Emperor orders the Daoist Sect and Imperial Palace Guards to search for the Great Demon and commands an investigation into the whereabouts of the three princes and the Duke of Dai.
• Rather than immediately executing Huo Wuyong for losing the imperial medicine treasury, the Emperor gives him a chance to redeem himself by finding the demon and investigating the connected disappearances.
• Huo Wuyong accepts the task, determined to capture or kill the demon and save himself, his disciple, and his Daoist lineage from punishment.

Character Developments

• The Emperor: His brief happiness over Princess Xinping’s gifts quickly turns into fear, rage, and physical collapse when he learns that the elixir ingredients have been destroyed. His dependence on the restoration elixirs is revealed to be critical to his survival. Though furious with Huo Wuyong, he chooses to use the Daoist’s abilities rather than kill him immediately.
• Zhao Eunuch: He demonstrates loyalty, quick thinking, and careful attention to protocol. He catches the collapsing Emperor, tests the emergency medicine himself, administers it, summons physicians, and remains at the Emperor’s side.
• Huo Wuyong: He appears humiliated and frightened, accepting responsibility for the destroyed medicines. Beneath his submission, however, he develops a fierce determination to hunt the Great Demon, both to fulfill the Emperor’s order and to avenge the destruction of his reputation and Daoist lineage.

Significant Themes

• Redemption through service: Huo Wuyong is spared execution only because he is given the opportunity to correct his failure through meritorious action.
• Power and dependence: The Emperor’s authority contrasts with his physical dependence on the restoration elixirs, exposing his vulnerability.
• Political suspicion: The Emperor immediately links the demon’s attack to the missing princes and Duke of Dai, suggesting a larger conspiracy.
• Revenge and survival: Huo Wuyong’s investigation is driven not only by imperial duty but also by personal hatred and the need to protect his lineage.
• Fragile fortune: The Emperor’s joyful mood over Xinping’s gifts is abruptly overturned by catastrophe, emphasizing how quickly security and happiness can collapse.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Eunuch and the Emperor share a familiar, trusted relationship, with Zhao Eunuch helping him recall suitable gifts and later acting decisively during his collapse.
• Huo Wuyong approaches the Emperor in a posture of complete submission, repeatedly kneeling and confessing his guilt.
• The Emperor responds harshly to Huo Wuyong but ultimately entrusts him with the investigation, transforming him from a condemned offender into the person responsible for repairing the damage.
• Huo Wuyong’s outward obedience conceals a personal vendetta: he intends to hunt the demon both to obey the Emperor and to avenge the threat to his life and Daoist heritage.

Shi Mingda wrestled with whether to report a lead linking Clear Garden Temple, Prince Qi, and pill refinement, but an urgent order sent the Imperial City Office to investigate Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and the Duke of Dai. Zhou Xuan left a meeting with Prince Qi having agreed to target the Duke of Dai, then stopped outside when a sudden alarm stirred in him.

• Shi Mingda debated telling Second Uncle Shi about a lead connecting Clear Garden Temple with Prince Qi and pill refinement.
• Second Uncle Shi summoned Shi Mingda and other agents after the Imperial City Office ordered an immediate investigation of Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and the Duke of Dai.
• Shi Mingda and Second Uncle Shi watched a restaurant where an agent reported that Prince Qi was meeting someone.
• Zhou Xuan left the restaurant after agreeing with Prince Qi to help bring down the Duke of Dai, though Prince Qi gave him no proof of their arrangement.
• Zhou Xuan stopped in the night street as a sudden chill of alarm rose in his heart.

Summary: “Raid on Clear Garden Temple”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Xuan, a powerful Great Demon nearing the Demon King realm, senses that he has been noticed or is in danger. Maintaining a calm expression, he leaves the restaurant by ox cart and orders the driver to take him to Clear Garden Temple.
• Shi Mingda, who has been observing nearby, impulsively tells his uncle that Zhou Xuan is connected to Clear Garden Temple and that the temple is refining pills. Although Shi Mingda realizes he has exaggerated or possibly invented part of this information, he cannot retract it without risking punishment.
• Second Uncle Shi reports the intelligence to Zhao Eunuch, the Chief Eunuch and an Imperial City Office commander. Following the organization’s policy of acting decisively on possible threats, Zhao Eunuch orders:
  • Zhou Xuan’s ox cart to be intercepted and its occupant arrested.
  • Clear Garden Temple to be raided immediately.
  • Prince Qi to remain untouched.
• Armed Imperial City Office soldiers are dispatched both to pursue Zhou Xuan and to storm Clear Garden Temple, the Brahma Sect’s chief temple in the capital. The order is politically dangerous because the temple has connections to several princes.
• At the restaurant, Prince Qi notices the sudden arrival of armored soldiers and immediately suspects that the authorities may have discovered his meeting with Zhou Xuan, or that the Emperor has been secretly monitoring him.
• Prince Qi escapes through a secret passage before the soldiers can find him. He later learns that the restaurant has been searched and that Zhou Xuan has already departed in an ox cart.
• Interpreting the raid as evidence that the Emperor distrusts him, Prince Qi bitterly decides to return to his residence by a shortcut.
• The pursuing soldiers successfully intercept Zhou Xuan’s ox cart. The ordinary driver panics and is knocked aside, while the commanding officer orders the hidden passenger to surrender or face death. The chapter ends as the confrontation is about to begin.

Character Developments

• Zhou Xuan: Demonstrates heightened danger-sensing abilities associated with his near-Demon King cultivation. He remains composed and conceals his alarm, suggesting confidence and significant hidden power.
• Shi Mingda: Acts impulsively and under pressure. His careless statement sets the entire operation in motion, while his private realization that he may have lied reveals his fear and lack of control.
• Second Uncle Shi: Shows practical loyalty to the Imperial City Office. He quickly passes the information upward rather than investigating it, prioritizing immediate action.
• Zhao Eunuch: Is portrayed as ruthless, decisive, and politically fearless. He orders a temple raid based on uncertain intelligence and treats possible threats as justification for extreme measures.
• Prince Qi: Reveals his suspicious and calculating nature. He quickly recognizes danger, escapes through the secret passage, and becomes increasingly convinced that the Emperor distrusts him.
• The ox-cart driver: Serves as an ordinary civilian caught in a conflict between powerful political and supernatural forces, emphasizing the danger surrounding Zhou Xuan.

Significant Themes

• Fear and suspicion: Nearly every major decision is driven by uncertainty—Shi Mingda fears punishment, Zhao Eunuch fears hidden threats, and Prince Qi fears imperial surveillance.
• The consequences of misinformation: Shi Mingda’s unverified statement triggers a major military response, showing how rumors can become official intelligence and produce disproportionate consequences.
• Political intrigue and distrust: Prince Qi’s meeting with a demon and his belief that the Emperor is watching him reveal the unstable relationship between the imperial court and the princes.
• Power and institutional brutality: The Imperial City Office acts according to the principle of eliminating threats before they can be confirmed, demonstrating the ruthless logic of authoritarian power.
• Hidden identities and concealed motives: Zhou Xuan disguises his true nature, Prince Qi hides his connection to the Demon Race, and even seemingly ordinary figures may be involved in larger schemes.

Character Interactions

• Zhou Xuan quietly orders the ox-cart driver to take him to Clear Garden Temple, concealing his awareness of danger.
• Shi Mingda urgently warns Second Uncle Shi about Zhou Xuan and Clear Garden Temple, unintentionally provoking the investigation.
• Second Uncle Shi reports to Zhao Eunuch, who immediately transforms the uncertain rumor into an official military operation.
• Prince Qi’s attendants help him escape through the secret passage while reporting the soldiers’ actions and Zhou Xuan’s departure.
• At the chapter’s close, the Imperial City Office soldiers confront Zhou Xuan directly and demand his surrender, setting up an imminent clash.

A Great Demon vanished from an ox cart and was tracked to Clear Garden Temple, where Imperial City Office soldiers accused Bianxuan of collusion and arrested him. The demon escaped the temple amid a deadly fire, and the soldiers pursued it through Capital City.

• The Hundred-Household Officer found the ox cart empty, and Daoist Qingling used a glowing object to track the fugitive.
• Bianxuan sensed trouble, went to the Small Spirit Pagoda to burn incense for Young Master Lin, and was slapped by the officer when soldiers stormed Clear Garden Temple.
• The officer accused Bianxuan of colluding with a Great Demon, and a burst of demonic aura from the Lay Buddhist Garden confirmed the demon was in the temple.
• Bianxuan allowed himself to be bound as soldiers searched the temple, while the demon escaped the burning Lay Buddhist Garden in the form of a great bird.
• The demon's fire killed more than twenty soldiers, and the Hundred-Household Officer rallied the survivors to pursue it.

Chapter Summary: “Fang Zhen Comes to Investigate”

Plot Points and Events

• Fang Zhen visits Duke of Dai’s residence under the pretense of viewing its newly rehearsed songs and dances.
• His real purpose is to investigate Su Ziji because the Zhou Xuan case has implicated Prince Qi, and the destruction of the medicinal stores has prompted the Emperor to scrutinize the princes and their associates.
• Su Ziji recognizes Fang Zhen’s intentions but remains composed. He relies on the Illusion Pearl and his carefully maintained public image to appear uninvolved.
• Fang Zhen studies Su Ziji’s behavior, especially his apparent indifference toward Luo Jiang. He concludes that Su Ziji likely regards her merely as a servant or entertainer rather than suspecting her of being a spy.
• Su Ziji orders the performance to begin. Luo Jiang unexpectedly appears as the lead dancer, performing a graceful sword dance alongside the maids.
• Fang Zhen is genuinely impressed and becomes absorbed in the performance, while Su Ziji also admires Luo Jiang’s skill.
• Watching Luo Jiang allows Su Ziji to gain another increase in his cultivation experience. He realizes that she continues to provide insights into the Luo Water Sword despite the technique being only a relatively low-ranked martial art.
• Su Ziji reflects on how the government deliberately limits Luo Jiang’s training because she is merely a useful pawn. He compares her situation to the rigid hierarchy of martial and Daoist lineages, where outsiders and servants are rarely given true transmissions.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates strong political awareness and self-control. He quickly understands Fang Zhen’s hidden motives and uses Luo Jiang’s status and performance to reinforce the illusion that she is nothing more than a performer. He also becomes increasingly aware of Luo Jiang’s extraordinary talent and feels that her limited training is a tragic waste.
• Fang Zhen: Shows himself to be observant, intelligent, and experienced with noble social behavior. He tests Su Ziji through conversation and carefully analyzes his treatment of Luo Jiang. His suspicions lessen when Su Ziji displays the detached attitude of a true aristocrat toward someone of lower status.
• Luo Jiang: Reveals another side of herself by willingly leading an elegant sword dance, displaying both artistic grace and exceptional martial talent. Her ability to elevate a modest sword technique through sheer understanding becomes increasingly apparent.
• The maids: Perform the dance trained by Luo Jiang, demonstrating that she has successfully translated her martial skill into an artistic performance.

Significant Themes

• Deception and political investigation: Fang Zhen’s visit highlights the atmosphere of suspicion following the Zhou Xuan affair. Both men conceal their real thoughts while observing one another.
• Class hierarchy and prejudice: Fang Zhen’s interpretation of Su Ziji’s attitude depends on noble assumptions about servants and martial wanderers. The chapter emphasizes how deeply social hierarchy shapes people’s judgments.
• Wasted talent: Luo Jiang possesses remarkable potential, but as a government-controlled pawn, she receives only enough instruction to remain useful. Su Ziji recognizes that she could become a peerless expert if given superior martial arts.
• Knowledge as privilege: True martial transmissions are reserved for heirs and trusted insiders. Outsiders, servants, and collateral members are often deliberately denied the most powerful teachings.
• Art and martial skill: Luo Jiang’s swordsmanship becomes a dance, showing how violence, discipline, beauty, and performance can coexist.

Character Interactions

• Fang Zhen and Su Ziji: Their polite conversation is actually a subtle investigation. Fang Zhen probes Su Ziji’s attitude toward Luo Jiang, while Su Ziji carefully controls the impression he gives.
• Fang Zhen and Luo Jiang: Though they do not directly converse, Fang Zhen’s reaction to her performance changes his assessment of her position in Duke of Dai’s residence.
• Su Ziji and Luo Jiang: Su Ziji watches her with growing admiration and regret, recognizing both her extraordinary talent and the limitations imposed upon her.
• Su Ziji and the performers: By presenting Luo Jiang as a dancer rather than an important operative, Su Ziji uses the household performance to support his deception and protect himself from suspicion.

Su Ziji used what he knew about Luo Jiang’s family to consider how to control her, then gave her a sword manual under the pretense that it would improve her dance. Luo Jiang discovered that it contained twenty-one techniques surpassing her own sword art, and wondered at the vast privilege of the authorities.

• Su Ziji recalled that Luo Jiang’s mother, Luo Yiyu, lived nearby and considered using her as leverage over Luo Jiang.
• Explosions sounded nearby, and a soldier reported that bandits were fighting to escape, prompting Fang Zhen to leave.
• Su Ziji dismissed the musicians, asked Luo Jiang to prepare another dance for his wife, and rewarded her with ten taels of silver.
• Su Ziji gave Luo Jiang a booklet of sword techniques, and she accepted it despite feeling insulted by his suggestion that she add flourishes to her dance.
• After returning to her courtyard, Luo Jiang read the booklet and found twenty-one techniques superior to her Luo Water Sword.

Chapter Summary: “Must Be Captured Alive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful explosion signals that the Great Demon has escaped Clear Garden Temple and is moving toward the Capital City’s East Gate.
• Luo Jiang, stationed at Duke of Dai’s Residence, senses something unusual and wonders what caused Fang Zhen to lose his composure. She has already secretly reported on Duke of Dai but remains troubled and emotionally subdued.
• Fang Zhen learns that the Imperial City Office has suffered more than one hundred casualties while trying to stop the demon. The East Gate requests reinforcements.
• Concerned about the political consequences of failure and the possibility of losing the Emperor’s trust, Fang Zhen immediately rides to the East Gate with armed soldiers.
• The Capital City falls into fear as residents hear explosions, galloping horses, and military movements. Families hide indoors, realizing that a major crisis is unfolding.
• At the East Gate, Fang Zhen finds a horrific battlefield filled with burned corpses and dying soldiers. The Great Demon remains trapped inside a burning encirclement and is still trying to break through toward the city wall.
• Fang Zhen learns that roughly 120 soldiers have already died. He questions why the troops are not using large volleys of crossbow bolts, which could quickly overwhelm the demon.
• Zhao Eunuch has deliberately forbidden such an attack. Once the demon’s ability to use Demon Fire is exhausted, Zhao orders the soldiers to tighten the encirclement—but insists that the demon be captured alive.
• Zhao reveals that the Emperor wants to discover how the Great Demon entered the Capital City without being suppressed by its powerful protective laws.

Character Developments

• Fang Zhen demonstrates his political awareness and sense of responsibility. He understands that failure could damage his standing as the Emperor’s favored heir and strengthen the position of his brothers.
• His initial confusion and frustration over Zhao Eunuch’s tactics develop into recognition that the operation has a larger strategic purpose.
• Luo Jiang appears observant and dutiful, but her lack of satisfaction after completing her assignment suggests growing emotional conflict or concern regarding Fang Zhen and the political situation.
• Zhao Eunuch is presented as a calm, experienced commander willing to accept heavy losses to achieve a greater objective. His refusal to kill the demon reveals that he is following a direct imperial order.
• The Great Demon is established as exceptionally powerful: it can survive elite forces, inflict massive casualties, use Demon Fire within the Capital, and resist the city’s usual suppression.

Significant Themes

• Political power and imperial trust: Fang Zhen’s position depends on maintaining the Emperor’s confidence, making the demon crisis both a military and political danger.
• The price of authority: The government is willing to sacrifice many soldiers in pursuit of information considered vital to the realm.
• Fear and disorder: The normally secure Capital City becomes a place of panic, showing how quickly public stability can collapse when supernatural forces threaten it.
• Limits of established laws: The Capital’s sacred protections are believed to suppress demons and even force powerful Daoists to submit. The Great Demon’s resistance challenges the foundations of the realm’s power.
• Knowledge versus immediate victory: Zhao prioritizes capturing the demon alive rather than simply killing it, emphasizing the strategic importance of understanding how it bypassed the Capital’s defenses.

Character Interactions

• Luo Jiang reflects on Fang Zhen’s unusual loss of composure while silently processing her own report and emotions.
• Fang Zhen commands his soldiers decisively and questions the local captain about the disastrous battle conditions.
• He directly challenges Zhao Eunuch over the refusal to use crossbow volleys.
• Zhao initially allows Fang Zhen to question him, then explains that the demon must survive so the authorities can uncover the reason it entered the Capital without being suppressed.
• Their exchange establishes a tension between Fang Zhen’s concern for immediate military effectiveness and Zhao’s obedience to the Emperor’s broader investigative objective.

Summary of “It Escaped”

Key plot points and events

• Fang Zhen realizes why the Great Demon has not been killed: keeping it alive may reveal how demons can enter the Capital City. Killing it would destroy the trail and allow future demons to infiltrate undetected.
• The Imperial City Office surrounds the demon and attempts to exhaust its Demonic Power through repeated attacks, intending to capture it alive.
• As the Daoist restraints weaken, the demon suddenly howls and begins a new escape attempt.
• More than a hundred armored figures emerge from a previously silent residence and attack the Imperial City Office’s forces. They initially appear to be private soldiers, but the Daoist priest identifies them as half-demons.
• The half-demons fight with military discipline and savage determination, briefly breaking through the encirclement to support the Great Demon.
• Zhao Eunuch orders the soldiers to kill the half-demons and capture the Great Demon. A skilled general takes command, coordinating crossbow volleys and infantry formations to destroy the attackers.
• Just as the half-demons are wiped out, the supposedly weakened formation suddenly reignites. The Daoist priest realizes it is a demonic sacrificial formation.
• The half-demons’ blood qi is absorbed by the Great Demon, which transforms from human form into a Golden Crow. Before the Imperial forces can react, it flies beyond the city walls and escapes.

Character developments

• Fang Zhen: Moves from resentment and skepticism toward the court’s treatment of martial artists to understanding the strategic necessity of controlling powerful individuals. He also gains respect for the military and Daoist Sect’s efforts to suppress demons.
• Zhao Eunuch: Demonstrates strategic caution, prioritizing the capture of the Great Demon for investigation. When the crisis escalates, he delegates command to an experienced general and orders immediate protection for the Emperor.
• The Daoist priest: Shows expertise by recognizing the attackers as half-demons and identifying the final formation as a blood-sacrifice technique, though he realizes the danger too late.
• The Great Demon: Reveals that its apparent desperation was part of a larger plan. It uses the half-demons as sacrificial cannon fodder, absorbs their power, transforms into a Golden Crow, and escapes.
• The military general: Displays decisive, highly coordinated battlefield command, quickly turning the tide against the half-demons.

Significant themes

• The danger of hidden infiltration: The real threat is not merely the individual demon but the possibility of an organized demonic presence inside the Capital.
• Sacrifice and expendability: The half-demons are used as disposable sacrifices to enable the Great Demon’s escape, paralleling the court’s willingness to accept soldier casualties.
• Military organization versus individual power: Although the half-demons are fierce and trained in military tactics, disciplined human formations and superior numbers destroy them.
• The limits of apparent control: The authorities believe victory is certain, but the demon has concealed a final escape method, emphasizing the danger of complacency.
• Human political vulnerability: The existence of hidden half-demon troops suggests that the Capital’s defenses and political order may be compromised from within.

Character interactions

• Fang Zhen consults Zhao Eunuch about the possibility of a breakout and receives reassurance that the preparations are sufficient.
• Zhao Eunuch relies on the Daoist priest’s protective talismans and later gives battlefield command to the general.
• The Daoist priest warns the others about the demon’s transformation and later identifies the sacrificial formation.
• Fang Zhen observes and evaluates the military response, gradually developing respect for the court’s forces and the Daoist Sect.
• The Great Demon’s interaction with the half-demons is indirect but central: it uses their attack and deaths to power its transformation and escape.

Chapter Summary: “Seized All Together”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Despite a deadly massacre in the Capital City during the night, the city appears peaceful and ordinary by morning. This suggests the Imperial City Office has swiftly contained the incident and suppressed public knowledge.
• Su Ziji breakfasts with Ye Buhui. He notices that the spiritual aura exposed by her entry into the Dao is gradually receding, meaning she will eventually appear completely normal even without the Blackwood Bracelet.
• Su Ziji privately assesses the political aftermath of the massacre. The Great Demon has openly broken with the imperial court, forcing Prince Qi to distance himself from it. Su considers this a major strategic victory because the court is now more likely to protect him while Prince Qi’s repeated offenses may eventually exhaust the Emperor’s patience.
• Rather than destroy Prince Qi immediately, Su plans to preserve him as a useful political force and potentially redirect his attacks toward Prince Shu.
• Su is also motivated by his prophetic dream: Ye Buhui may become pregnant within a few months, so he wants to strengthen his faction and gather capable allies before the child is born, ensuring that the tragedy from his dream does not occur.
• Luo Jiang returns the sword manual Su lent her after studying it overnight. Although she claims to have gained only limited understanding, Su recognizes the value of her insights.
• Through the Rosewood Pendant’s ability, Su receives a large increase in experience—800 points—and gains further understanding of swordsmanship from Luo Jiang’s study. He concludes that she is an exceptionally talented swordswoman and a valuable source of continued growth.
• Su then dismisses Luo Jiang and encounters Jian Qu, who reports that unrest occurred in the Capital City the previous night. All the monks of Clear Garden Temple have been arrested and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison for interrogation.
• The authorities refuse to accept appeals on the monks’ behalf. When a Provincial Graduate protests, officials knock off his scholarly cap, effectively stripping him of his status.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes increasingly strategic and politically calculating. He regards the previous night’s violence as a victory rather than a tragedy, planning how to balance Prince Qi and Prince Shu while building power to protect his future child. His affection for Ye Buhui also deepens, and he is determined to prevent the future calamity he saw in his dream.
• Ye Buhui: Her spiritual aura is gradually becoming concealed, indicating that she is adapting to her cultivation and becoming less conspicuous. Her relationship with Su grows warmer and more openly affectionate.
• Luo Jiang: Demonstrates remarkable potential as a swordswoman despite having studied the manual for only one night. She is emotionally conflicted because she was originally placed in Su’s household to monitor him, yet she has begun to care about his opinion and feel indebted to him after receiving his guidance and trust.
• Jian Qu: Continues acting as Su’s reliable informant, bringing him news of the Capital City’s unrest and the court’s severe response.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and controlled power: Su understands that victory depends not simply on eliminating enemies but on preserving useful rivals and manipulating the balance among competing factions.
• Protection and preparation: Su’s fear of repeating the tragedy from his dream drives him to expand his influence and prepare for Ye Buhui’s future pregnancy.
• Hidden strength and concealment: Ye Buhui’s fading aura reflects the importance of hiding one’s abilities in a dangerous political and cultivation environment.
• Loyalty and emotional indebtedness: Luo Jiang’s position becomes increasingly complicated as professional surveillance gives way to gratitude, admiration, and personal concern.
• Authority and suppression: The arrest of Clear Garden Temple’s monks and the punishment of the protesting scholar show the court’s absolute control and willingness to destroy status, reputation, and institutions without allowing dissent.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: Their affectionate breakfast scene reveals growing marital intimacy. Su compliments her appearance, feeds her, teases her about her improved complexion, and promises to take her shopping again.
• Su Ziji and Luo Jiang: Su probes Luo Jiang about what she learned from the sword manual while pretending to be casual. Her answer gives him valuable cultivation insight, and his approval subtly reassures her, deepening her emotional uncertainty toward him.
• Su Ziji and Jian Qu: Jian Qu reports the court’s crackdown, confirming Su’s belief that the Imperial City Office is powerful and that the night’s events have significantly altered the political landscape.

Su Ziji learned that Luo Pei was likely to be released and visited him in prison, hoping to draw him away from Prince Shu’s Faction. Luo Pei thanked Su Ziji for his help, signaling that he might join Su Ziji’s side.

• Jian Qu told Su Ziji that Luo Pei was likely to be released, and Su Ziji decided to visit him.
• Su Ziji reasoned that Prince Shu’s failure to support Luo Pei during his imprisonment would damage the prince’s faction and make Luo Pei unlikely to return to it.
• Jian Qu arranged a carriage and prepared the prison visit, while Su Ziji’s party secured access to Luo Pei.
• A prison official led Su Ziji and Jian Qu to Luo Pei’s improved cell and claimed he did not know why Luo Pei had been moved.
• Luo Pei thanked Su Ziji for helping him, and Jian Qu recognized his gratitude as a sign that Luo Pei was moving toward their side.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji visits Luo Pei in prison and confirms that Luo has decided to sever ties with Prince Shu. Luo explains that although he never betrayed Prince Shu while imprisoned, Prince Shu’s complete lack of concern during his confinement has convinced him that their relationship is over.
• Su Ziji is pleased, having deliberately cultivated Luo as a potential ally. Luo’s surrender represents an important political gain for Su Ziji.
• Jian Qu arrives with urgent news: Young Marquis Fang, Fang Zhen, has been seriously injured while pursuing Zhou Xuan, the “Great Demon.” Despite the Imperial City Office deploying elite forces, Zhou Xuan has escaped the capital.
• Su Ziji immediately leaves the prison to visit Fang Zhen at the Marquis of Huifeng’s Residence. He considers Zhou Xuan an increasingly dangerous enemy and resolves to eliminate him before he becomes a lasting threat.
• The chapter provides background on the declining Marquis of Huifeng’s family. The residence has lost influence over the generations, but Fang Zhen’s connections—particularly through the eunuchs—had begun restoring the family’s prospects.
• At the residence, Su Ziji is received by Fang Zhen’s father, the Marquis of Huifeng, who explains that Fang Zhen’s condition is extremely serious. Fang and Zhao Supervising Eunuch had pursued Zhou Xuan after allowing him to escape, but Zhou Xuan responded with a calculated night ambush.
• The excerpt ends as the Marquis begins describing the ambush and its casualties.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates political foresight, successfully winning Luo Pei’s allegiance. He also reveals genuine gratitude and loyalty toward Fang Zhen, showing that his relationships are not based solely on political calculation. Fang’s injuries awaken strong concern and murderous hostility toward Zhou Xuan.
• Luo Pei: Moves decisively away from Prince Shu after feeling abandoned in prison. His choice is motivated less by fear or greed than by disappointment and the need for loyalty and human warmth. He now views Su Ziji as a lord who values capable people.
• Prince Shu: Though absent from the chapter, his neglect of Luo Pei exposes his coldness and poor judgment as a leader. His abandonment directly costs him a valuable official.
• Fang Zhen: Is established as a formerly helpful ally of Su Ziji and an important figure in his family’s revival. His severe injuries place his future—and possibly his family’s prospects—in danger.
• Zhou Xuan: Emerges as a highly dangerous and intelligent opponent. Even while injured and pursued, he remains composed, kills his pursuers through a night ambush, and successfully escapes the capital.
• Marquis of Huifeng: Appears anxious and grateful, showing deep paternal concern for Fang Zhen and respect for Su Ziji’s visit.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and reciprocity: Luo Pei abandons Prince Shu because loyalty without mutual concern has become meaningless. Su Ziji’s repeated visits contrast sharply with Prince Shu’s indifference.
• Political allegiance as human connection: The chapter suggests that people do not serve rulers solely for rank or profit; respect, warmth, and recognition are equally important.
• The rise and decline of noble families: The Marquis of Huifeng’s Residence illustrates how inherited status alone cannot preserve influence. Political connections and capable heirs are necessary to maintain a family’s standing.
• Gratitude and remembered kindness: Su Ziji’s concern for Fang Zhen stems partly from Fang’s earlier assistance, emphasizing that past favors can shape present loyalties.
• Hidden danger and instability: Despite official power and overwhelming numbers, Zhou Xuan escapes, demonstrating how quickly seemingly secure situations can collapse and how dangerous political and supernatural conflicts remain.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Luo Pei: Their conversation formalizes Luo Pei’s shift in allegiance. Su Ziji offers continued support and promises to receive him after his release.
• Su Ziji and Jian Qu: Jian Qu serves as a trusted messenger and attendant, bringing urgent intelligence and immediately accompanying Su Ziji to the Marquis’s residence.
• Su Ziji and the Marquis of Huifeng: Their respectful exchange becomes more personal when the marquis reveals Fang Zhen’s grave condition. Su Ziji’s concern earns the father’s gratitude.
• Luo Pei and Prince Shu: Their relationship ends indirectly through Luo Pei’s reflections on Prince Shu’s abandonment.
• Su Ziji and Fang Zhen: Though Fang Zhen does not appear directly, Su Ziji’s decision to visit and aid him reflects a longstanding bond based on past assistance and mutual goodwill.

Su Ziji visited the gravely wounded Fang Zhen and learned that his broken leg would leave him with a limp, threatening his future as heir to the Marquis of Huifeng. As Su Ziji considered the danger Fang Zhen faced after his failed pursuit of Zhou Xuan, Zhou Xuan approached in a savage rage.

• The Marquis of Huifeng told Su Ziji that Fang Zhen's pursuit of Zhou Xuan had ended in heavy losses, with Fang Zhen gravely wounded and over a hundred armored soldiers killed.
• Su Ziji visited unconscious Fang Zhen and questioned the physician, who revealed that Fang Zhen would likely be left with a limp in his right leg.
• The Marquis and marchioness of Huifeng were devastated by the diagnosis, while a young woman and boy nearby briefly showed signs of delight.
• Jian Qu explained to Su Ziji that Fang Zhen's limp could prevent him from inheriting his title, especially after his failed mission had cost him imperial favor.
• Su Ziji sensed Zhou Xuan approaching in a savage rage and wondered whether it was time to secure the home front.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor angrily berates the officials, Daoist priests, and generals for failing to determine how a Great Demon entered the Capital, acted within it, destroyed the Medicine Treasury, and escaped.
• He orders a thorough investigation, threatening severe punishment—including execution—if another incident occurs.
• Liu Zhan and Huo Wuyong leave the palace in disgrace. Both recognize that finding the escaped Great Demon is essential:
  • Huo Wuyong hopes capturing it will redeem his failed pill-refinement efforts.
  • Liu Zhan sees the demon as a possible sign of the Demon Race’s resurgence and a threat to the Yin Temple Sect, whose survival depends on its history of fighting and refining Demon Race members.
• After the officials depart, the Emperor questions Zhao Eunuch about possible connections between the incident, Prince Qi, and Clear Garden Temple.
• Zhao Eunuch reports that Prince Qi met the Great Demon shortly before the incident and left through a secret passage, raising suspicions that he may have orchestrated the attack to interfere with the Emperor’s pill refinement.
• He also reveals that Clear Garden Temple knowingly sheltered the demon in Lay Buddhist Garden, suggesting possible involvement by the temple or by Brahma Dharma.
• The Emperor orders the monks of Clear Garden Temple to be tortured for information, increases surveillance on Prince Qi, and issues a major political decree: Ji Zizong is to be appointed Acting King.

Character Developments

• The Emperor shifts from open fury to controlled, ruthless resolve. His calm expression after the outburst reveals that his anger has become more dangerous and deliberate.
• Zhao Eunuch, injured during the earlier conflict, remains loyal and perceptive. He understands the Emperor’s suspicions and recognizes the signs of an impending political purge.
• Liu Zhan becomes increasingly concerned about the Demon Race’s possible resurgence and the existential danger it poses to the Yin Temple Sect.
• Huo Wuyong is reduced from an ambitious alchemist seeking imperial favor to a desperate figure trying to survive punishment and preserve his sect’s standing.
• Prince Qi is not directly shown, but his meeting with the demon and secret departure place him under growing suspicion of conspiring against the Emperor.
• Ji Zizong gains sudden political importance through his appointment as Acting King.

Significant Themes

• Imperial power and fear: The Emperor’s authority is maintained through public humiliation, threats, surveillance, and torture.
• Political suspicion and succession struggles: The demon attack is treated not merely as a supernatural incident but as a possible maneuver in the imperial power struggle.
• Institutional rivalry: The Emperor suspects Clear Garden Temple and Brahma Dharma of expanding their influence beyond religious boundaries.
• Survival amid shifting power: Liu Zhan, Huo Wuyong, the Yin Temple Sect, and the court officials all act according to their own chances of avoiding punishment or securing advantage.
• The danger of the Demon Race: The escaped Great Demon may signal a broader resurgence, making the incident a threat to both the empire and factions that have persecuted demons.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor publicly dominates the officials, priests, and generals, leaving them too frightened to defend themselves.
• Liu Zhan and Huo Wuyong exchange a brief, gloomy glance but avoid meaningful discussion, each absorbed in his own crisis.
• The Emperor interrogates Zhao Eunuch about Prince Qi and Clear Garden Temple, forcing him to reveal politically dangerous information.
• Zhao Eunuch’s reports deepen the Emperor’s suspicions, leading directly to harsher measures against Clear Garden Temple, closer surveillance of Prince Qi, and Ji Zizong’s appointment.

Chapter Summary: “The Last Chance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Emperor reprimands Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and Ji Zizong, declaring that he is giving them their “last chance.” He has tolerated Prince Qi and Prince Shu’s schemes for some time, but warns that, as Emperor, he must prioritize the stability of the empire over fatherly affection.
• The destruction of the Medicine Treasury has enraged the Emperor. He intends for the competing factions to restrain one another without disrupting the balance of power, while also warning Ji Zizong not to disappoint him.
• After leaving the Emperor’s hall, Zhao Eunuch pauses outside the sealed Eastern Palace. He remembers the former Crown Prince and briefly imagines seeing him. The memory prompts him to reflect on the Crown Prince’s tragic fate and the possibility that history is repeating itself.
• Zhao realizes that Ji Zizong’s elevation to princely status is politically significant. As a prince, Ji Zizong can now formally compete for the position of Crown Prince or Crown Grandson, giving court officials permission to support him.
• At Prince Qi’s residence, the advisors are drinking, enjoying music, and flirting with the serving women. Wen Xunpeng remains apart from them, drinking silently and appearing indifferent to the political competition.
• New intelligence arrives in a sealed letter. Although it is technically Wen Xunpeng’s turn to report to Prince Qi, Wang Xuan opportunistically takes the letter instead. Wen does not object, allowing Wang to claim the opportunity.
• The other advisors mock Wen’s withdrawal from court politics. Although they pretend concern, they are relieved that the once-powerful strategist no longer competes with them for Prince Qi’s attention.

Character Developments

• The Emperor: Reveals his frustration and determination to impose order. He is torn between his role as a father and his responsibility as Emperor, but makes clear that further disobedience will not be tolerated.
• Zhao Eunuch: Shows loyalty and lingering grief for the former Crown Prince. He recognizes the importance of Ji Zizong’s new status and takes comfort in seeing the Crown Prince’s bloodline regain a chance at succession.
• Ji Zizong: Though absent from the chapter, his promotion to prince marks a major political transformation. He now has legitimate standing in the succession struggle and can attract official supporters.
• Wen Xunpeng: Appears defeated, withdrawn, or deliberately detached. Once Prince Qi’s chief strategist, he now drinks alone and allows others to take his responsibilities, suggesting either loss of ambition, deep disappointment, or a concealed strategy.
• Wang Xuan: Displays opportunism and hostility toward Wen. He deliberately takes the intelligence report to gain favor with Prince Qi and exploit Wen’s apparent decline.
• Prince Qi’s other advisors: Their behavior reveals insecurity and self-interest. They resent Wen’s former influence and are relieved that he no longer overshadows them.

Significant Themes

• Power and succession: Ji Zizong’s elevation demonstrates that titles determine who may legitimately compete for imperial succession and whom officials dare to support.
• Political balance and manipulation: The Emperor is intentionally allowing rival factions to check one another, using competition as a tool to preserve imperial authority.
• Duty versus family: The Emperor’s conflict between fatherly affection and imperial responsibility shapes his harsh ultimatum.
• Cycles of history: Zhao Eunuch’s memories of the former Crown Prince suggest that the struggles and tragedies of the past may be repeating through the next generation.
• Decline and hidden intentions: Wen Xunpeng’s apparent surrender may represent genuine defeat—or a calculated withdrawal. The chapter leaves his true state uncertain.
• Self-interest and opportunism: The advisors’ false concern and Wang Xuan’s maneuvering show how political loyalty is often driven by personal advancement.

Character Interactions

• The Emperor speaks to Zhao Eunuch and issues warnings concerning Prince Qi, Prince Shu, and Ji Zizong, establishing the political stakes.
• Zhao Eunuch’s imagined encounter with the former Crown Prince is an emotional, one-sided interaction shaped by memory and regret.
• Wang Xuan deliberately challenges Wen Xunpeng by taking the intelligence letter that should have been delivered by Wen. Wen’s silence allows him to do so.
• The other advisors alternately criticize, patronize, and mock Wen, while secretly benefiting from his withdrawal.
• The exchange between an advisor and the maid Hongmei highlights the residence’s transactional relationships: the women seek security through influential men, while the advisors treat them as entertainment or political accessories.

Summary of “The Road Ahead Is Long”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wen Xunpeng drinks silently while Zhang Xu teases him during a gathering at Prince Qi’s Residence.
• The celebration is interrupted when guards drag the bloodied corpse of adviser Wang Xuan through the courtyard.
• The advisers learn that Prince Qi killed Wang Xuan for providing inaccurate information about Duke of Dai.
• The supposedly minor Duke of Dai has received an imperial edict granting him the title of Prince Dai, making him a serious rival in the succession struggle.
• The advisers panic, realizing that Prince Qi’s position has weakened and that failure could lead to their own imprisonment or deaths.
• Wen Xunpeng receives a secret note. Its contents anger him, suggesting that someone is demanding his cooperation or attempting to use him despite his vulnerable position.
• Chief strategist Sun Bolan arrives and claims that Prince Qi was drunk and mistook Wang Xuan for a servant. He announces compensation for Wang Xuan’s family, an honorable burial, and a promotion for Wang Xuan’s son.
• The advisers accept this explanation because it reassures them that Prince Qi still values them and has not completely lost control.
• Sun Bolan privately views Wen Xunpeng as someone who escaped the current danger but believes he will eventually find another opportunity to deal with him.

Character Developments

• Wen Xunpeng: Remains outwardly calm and inconspicuous, but Wang Xuan’s death and the secret note reveal his growing resentment and dangerous determination. He feels exploited and thinks that even the desperate may eventually fight back.
• Zhang Xu: Initially mocks Wen, but becomes visibly frightened after witnessing Wang Xuan’s death. He voices the advisers’ anxiety and seeks reassurance from Wen and Sun Bolan.
• Prince Qi: His violent impulsiveness becomes more extreme. Killing an adviser over bad intelligence exposes both his unstable temperament and the danger faced by those serving him. His later attempt to compensate Wang Xuan’s family is a political effort to restore confidence.
• Sun Bolan: Presents himself as composed and reassuring, but his private thoughts reveal jealousy and hostility toward Wen Xunpeng. He intends to eliminate Wen when another opportunity arises.
• Wang Xuan: His sudden execution demonstrates the expendability of the advisers and serves as a warning to everyone in Prince Qi’s household.
• Duke/Prince Dai: Though absent, his elevation dramatically changes the political landscape, transforming him into a major contender in the succession struggle.

Significant Themes

• Political instability and succession: Prince Dai’s new title alters the balance of power and threatens Prince Qi’s claim to the throne.
• Fear and self-preservation: The advisers’ loyalty is overshadowed by terror for their own lives; they accept a transparent excuse because reassurance is safer than protest.
• The expendability of subordinates: Wang Xuan is killed for delivering unfavorable information, showing how those near power can be discarded without warning.
• Public appearances versus private motives: Sun Bolan’s comforting explanation conceals the reality of Prince Qi’s cruelty, while his own courteous demeanor hides hostility toward Wen.
• Suppressed resistance: Wen’s anger suggests that continued oppression may eventually provoke retaliation.
• Power and survival: The chapter portrays political life as a dangerous struggle in which status, favor, and even survival can change instantly.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Xu’s teasing conversation with Wen is abruptly replaced by shared fear after Wang Xuan’s corpse appears.
• Zhang questions the guards and learns that Wang was killed because of the news about Prince Dai.
• The advisers collectively discuss the threat posed by Prince Dai and worry about their futures if Prince Qi loses the succession struggle.
• Zhang turns to Wen for advice, but Wen remains guarded and does not reveal his private thoughts or the contents of the note.
• The advisers criticize Prince Qi’s treatment of them, only to silence one another out of fear.
• Sun Bolan addresses the group, calming them with an official explanation and promises of compensation.
• Sun and Wen exchange no open confrontation, but their opposing private thoughts establish an ongoing rivalry: Wen resents being manipulated, while Sun plans to find another chance to destroy him.

Wen Xunpeng secretly left Prince Qi's Residence and requested an audience with Su Ziji at the Duke of Dai's Residence. Su Ziji wondered whether Wen had come to pledge allegiance or was setting a trap as they met.

• Wen Xunpeng slipped out of Prince Qi's Residence and took an ox cart to the Duke of Dai's Residence.
• Wen Xunpeng asked a servant to announce that an adviser from Prince Qi's Residence wished to pay his respects to Prince Dai.
• Xu Wei arrived to congratulate Su Ziji and noticed someone who looked familiar before entering with the other guests.
• A servant led Wen Xunpeng through a secluded side gate and into a hall, where Su Ziji stood beside his new ceremonial robe.
• Wen Xunpeng bowed to Su Ziji, who wondered why Prince Qi's adviser had come to see him.