Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Ancient Ridge Feng Shui”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In rainy, mist-covered Linhua County, Su Ziji and Ye Buhui visit Ye Weihan’s newly completed grave outside town.
• Wild Daoist explains that the burial site lies on a favorable branch of Yu Mountain’s earth vein. Though not an exceptional feng shui location, it is peaceful, well nourished by earth qi, and near a Brahma temple that can maintain the grave and perform rituals.
• Ye Buhui thanks Wild Daoist and pays him three taels of silver. Su Ziji reveals that he has arranged for the temple to care for the grave for ten years, including regular offerings and rites.
• Su Ziji promises that within those ten years he will earn an Imperial Enfeoffment for Ye Weihan, which would provide a far greater honor and blessing than temple rituals. Wild Daoist supports this claim and praises Su Ziji’s prospects.
• As Su Ziji and Ye Buhui leave, hidden watchers emerge. They have been ordered by “Shangguan” to observe and protect Su Ziji without being detected.
• On the way home, Ye Buhui asks about Su Ziji’s future. He explains that he plans to attend the Prefectural Academy, where the teachers are much more accomplished than those at the County Academy.
• Ye Buhui initially suggests remaining in Linhua County so she will not burden him, but Su Ziji insists that she accompany him. He has enough money, including a fifty-tael gift from the county magistrate and their savings, to rent a small residence in the prefectural city.
• Reassured that she is not alone, Ye Buhui agrees. They head toward the dock by hired ox carts, accompanied by Wild Daoist and Little Fox.
• At the end of the chapter, Su Ziji directly questions Wild Daoist about his unusually helpful behavior and asks what his true purpose was.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates responsibility, foresight, and growing ambition. He carefully handles Ye Weihan’s funeral arrangements, plans for Ye Buhui’s future, and remains committed to advancing through the examination system. His insistence that Ye Buhui come with him shows increasing emotional attachment and a sense of familial duty.
• Ye Buhui: Gradually moves beyond her grief and begins accepting Su Ziji as genuine family rather than merely a nominal husband. She is modest and concerned about becoming a burden, but ultimately chooses companionship over remaining alone.
• Wild Daoist: Acts generously by selecting the burial site and assisting with the funeral, yet his motives remain suspicious. His knowledge of feng shui and his praise of Su Ziji’s future suggest deeper connections or plans.
• The hidden observers: Their presence reveals that Su Ziji has attracted official or influential attention. They are tasked with surveillance and protection, indicating that he may be involved in matters larger than his examination career.
• Little Fox: Provides a brief affectionate moment with Ye Buhui, reinforcing the warmth and domesticity developing around Su Ziji’s household.

Significant Themes

• Family and companionship: Although Su Ziji and Ye Buhui’s marriage began as an arrangement, they increasingly rely on and care for one another as family.
• Duty to the dead: The elaborate funeral arrangements and promise of an Imperial Enfeoffment emphasize the importance of honoring ancestors and preserving family dignity.
• Tradition versus official achievement: Temple rites and feng shui offer comfort, but Su Ziji views political recognition and Imperial Enfeoffment as the ultimate form of honor.
• Ambition and social advancement: Su Ziji’s move to the Prefectural Academy marks his determination to rise through education and the civil examination system.
• Hidden motives and surveillance: The unseen watchers and Wild Daoist’s unexplained assistance introduce an atmosphere of political intrigue and uncertainty.

Important Character Interactions

• Wild Daoist advises Su Ziji and Ye Buhui on the burial site and encourages their confidence in Su Ziji’s future.
• Su Ziji quietly supports Ye Buhui during her grief, then reassures her that she will accompany him to the prefectural city.
• Ye Buhui’s use of the more intimate address “Husband” reflects the deepening bond between them.
• Su Ziji challenges Wild Daoist at the chapter’s close, shifting their relationship from polite cooperation toward open suspicion and confrontation.

Chapter Summary: Wild Daoist Pledged Allegiance

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wild Daoist attempts to reconcile with Su Ziji by offering him hot towels, food, and apologetic wine. Su Ziji accepts his apology, ending their previous conflict.
• Wild Daoist reveals that he possesses the Dragon-Slaying Art, though his life has been reduced to serving lesser figures in a peaceful era. He claims that the deceased gang leader Zhang Dacuo was once a “Dragon-Snake Seed,” surprising and amusing Su Ziji.
• The two discuss whether heroes create their times or whether favorable times produce heroes. Wild Daoist argues that great men can only emerge when the proper historical moment arrives, while the founding emperor’s conquest created centuries of peace and Fortune.
• Impressed by Wild Daoist’s insight, Su Ziji reassesses him. Wild Daoist explains that he has spent over forty years serving mediocre people and now seeks a new path. He offers to handle Su Ziji’s practical affairs in exchange for a future teaching position once Su becomes an official.
• Su Ziji accepts Wild Daoist’s allegiance, promising to reward him properly if he proves useful.
• Upon reaching the wharf, Su Ziji receives an invitation from Zhang Modong to attend a reading gathering in the prefectural city. Su accepts and explains the invitation to Ye Buhui.
• During the following days, Su attends two literary gatherings in Linhua County, repays all his debts, and builds a growing reputation among local examination candidates through his kindness and advice.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes more open and trusting toward Wild Daoist after recognizing his intelligence and historical insight. He demonstrates growing political awareness, understanding that reputation, connections, and capable followers will be essential to his future career. He remains cautious about rumors concerning his possible Crown Prince ancestry, refusing to rely on uncertain status.
• Wild Daoist: Moves from an uneasy helper seeking forgiveness to a committed follower. His bitterness over a wasted life gives way to hope as he chooses to invest in Su Ziji’s future. His knowledge of strategy, history, and esoteric arts becomes clearer, revealing that he is far more capable than Su initially assumed.
• Ye Buhui: Shows trust in Su Ziji’s judgment and approves of his association with Zhang Modong, recognizing Zhang as respectable and talented.
• Zhang Modong: Though absent, he is characterized as considerate and honorable by arranging a quiet reading gathering appropriate to Su Ziji’s mourning period.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between heroes and historical circumstances: The chapter argues that talent alone is insufficient; great figures also require the right era and opportunities to emerge.
• Loyalty and strategic alliances: Wild Daoist’s pledge shows how personal loyalty can arise from mutual recognition of talent and shared interests.
• Reputation and social networks: Su deliberately attends gatherings, helps fellow students, and cultivates goodwill because future political success depends not only on ability but also on relationships.
• Pragmatism and uncertainty: Su prepares for possible future power without assuming that rumors of royal blood are true. He understands that regardless of his lineage, he will need capable allies.
• Redemption and second chances: Wild Daoist seeks to escape a life of compromised service, while Su offers him the possibility of meaningful employment and dignity.

Character Interactions

• Wild Daoist apologizes to Su with food and wine, and Su responds with forgiveness.
• Their philosophical discussion transforms Su’s opinion of Wild Daoist from disdain to respect.
• Wild Daoist formally offers his service, and Su accepts him as a subordinate and future ally.
• Su discusses Zhang Modong’s invitation with Ye Buhui, who supports the connection.
• At the literary gatherings, Su interacts courteously with students and shares examination experience, strengthening his public reputation.

Chapter Summary: “A True Calamity — Ferry Crossing”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji prepares to leave Linhua County for the Prefectural Academy after completing his affairs and receiving encouragement from the County Academy instructor.
• At the ferry, he is seen off by Zhang Sheng, Fang Xi, and Yu Lü. He also meets Cao Yiyan, a reserved scholar traveling before the upcoming Prefectural Examination.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui are traveling together. Their marriage—formed by bowing to Heaven and Earth before Ye Weihan’s coffin—has become publicly established, despite the lack of a formal ceremony or shared married life.
• Su Ziji reflects on the recent death of Ye Buhui’s father, the shortened burial period, and the strict mourning and marriage laws of the Zheng Dynasty.
• He intends to bring Ye Buhui with him because she is young, has lost her family, and may be connected to the dangerous bloodline matter surrounding them.
• Su Ziji is determined to pass the upcoming Provincial Examination. Beyond academic success, he hopes the examination will reveal the attitude of higher authorities toward him and the unresolved threat connected to his bloodline and the death of Zeng Jing.
• From a distance, Tan An sees Ye Buhui leaving with Su Ziji and tries to intervene, but his father, Tan Youshan, stops him.
• Tan Youshan reminds Tan An that Ye Buhui is now Su Ziji’s wife and warns him that further trouble could cost him his position as a county runner. Tan An’s earlier attempt to frame or accuse Su Ziji has already damaged the family’s standing.
• As Su Ziji boards, Wild Daoist observes that Tan An’s complexion suggests he is under an ominous influence and offers to ruin him further, possibly by stripping him of his official position.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji appears increasingly responsible and politically cautious. He balances his scholarly ambitions with concern for Ye Buhui’s safety and remains alert to the hidden forces threatening them.
• Ye Buhui has undergone a major change in circumstances. Once returning to Linhua County for a chess tournament, she now leaves it as Su Ziji’s wife and orphaned survivor, carrying mixed feelings about her former home.
• Tan An is revealed as emotionally impulsive and unable to accept Ye Buhui’s relationship with Su Ziji. His obsession has already harmed his career and family, yet he still considers confronting Su Ziji.
• Tan Youshan shifts from supporting his son to restraining him. Fearful of Su Ziji’s growing status, he prioritizes preserving Tan An’s position and preventing another scandal.
• Fang Xi respects Su Ziji and regrets not being able to accompany him, but chooses to remain with his teacher in preparation for the Provincial Examination.
• Yu Lü and Zhang Sheng show genuine friendship and reluctance at parting, while encouraging Su Ziji in his future studies.
• Cao Yiyan is introduced as a scholarly, somewhat reserved traveler who may become relevant during Su Ziji’s journey.
• Wild Daoist continues to act as Su Ziji’s protective and dangerous companion, openly willing to undermine Tan An.

Significant Themes

• Social status and ambition: Su Ziji’s examination success is rapidly elevating his position, making him a threat to lesser officials and gentry families.
• Duty versus personal desire: Su Ziji prioritizes responsibility toward Ye Buhui and his studies, while Tan An allows romantic obsession to override reason and duty.
• Marriage, mourning, and social law: The chapter emphasizes how ritual acts and legal customs determine relationships, especially Su Ziji and Ye Buhui’s unconventional but recognized marriage.
• Hidden danger and political uncertainty: Su Ziji’s pursuit of the Provincial Examination is also a way to test how powerful authorities view him while he remains threatened by the mystery of his bloodline.
• Reputation and consequences: Tan An’s actions demonstrate how quickly a false accusation or public scandal can damage a person’s career and family standing.
• Calamity and fate: Ye Buhui is unfairly labeled a “calamity” by Tan Youshan, reflecting the tendency to blame women and circumstances for the consequences of men’s choices.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji warmly exchanges farewells with Yu Lü, Zhang Sheng, and Fang Xi, promising to meet them again during their studies or the Provincial Examination.
• He politely welcomes Cao Yiyan and establishes a preliminary scholarly connection.
• Tan An attempts to rush toward Su Ziji and Ye Buhui, but Tan Youshan physically and verbally restrains him, stressing that Ye Buhui is now Su Ziji’s lawful wife.
• Tan Youshan’s reprimand reveals both his fear of Su Ziji’s rising influence and his determination to protect Tan An’s remaining official position.
• Wild Daoist speaks privately to Su Ziji and offers to retaliate against Tan An, hinting that the conflict may continue even after Su Ziji leaves Linhua County.

Chapter Summary: “Tan An the Second”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji forgives Tan An for his earlier offense because of Tan An’s father, Tan Youshan, an upright and long-serving county constable whom Su respects.
• Su gives the Wild Daoist a task: investigate the native registrations and official positions of several people listed by Su. The Wild Daoist agrees and warns that Cao Yiyan seems suspicious.
• As Su, Ye Buhui, and the others board the ship, Tan An becomes upset after interpreting his father’s criticism as further humiliation. He runs away from the dock.
• In the reeds, Tan An discovers the corpses of a young couple. Their bodies are unnaturally dried out, while their clothing remains clean despite the recent rain, suggesting supernatural murder.
• Tan An suspects the bamboo-hatted man he passed earlier. He plans to report the incident to the county magistrate, hoping to regain official favor.
• The bamboo-hatted man suddenly appears behind Tan An. His eyes transform into beast-like pupils, and he is revealed to be a shadowless demon.
• The demon begins draining Tan An into a withered corpse but stops after discovering through Tan An’s memories that he bears a grudge against Su Ziji. It decides to use him instead.
• Black qi enters Tan An’s body, and the demon takes possession of him. The real Tan An’s corpse is buried alongside the couple’s bodies, while the demon disguises the scene.
• The possessed “Tan An” returns to his father. Although he initially reacts with murderous rage when struck, he conceals his true nature and imitates Tan An’s usual appearance and behavior.
• He dismisses his father’s warning about losing his government position, shocking Tan Youshan and confirming that something about him has fundamentally changed.

2. Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Shows restraint and compassion by sparing Tan An for the sake of Tan Youshan. He also demonstrates growing caution, taking the Wild Daoist’s suspicion of Cao Yiyan seriously.
• The Wild Daoist: Begins acting as Su’s trusted investigator. He is eager to prove himself through his first assignment and displays sharp instincts by sensing that Cao Yiyan is abnormal.
• Tan An: His pride, resentment, and desire for official approval make him vulnerable. He runs away after feeling humiliated, then becomes the victim of the demon. His body and identity are effectively replaced.
• Tan Youshan: Remains dutiful, stern, and concerned for his son. Though angry at Tan An’s negligence, he still worries about him and tries to correct him rather than abandon him.
• The Demon/“Second Tan An”: Reveals itself as intelligent and opportunistic. Instead of killing Tan An outright, it exploits his grudge against Su Ziji and assumes his identity for a larger plan.
• Fang Xi: Briefly notices the strange possessed Tan An but dismisses his unease, unknowingly overlooking the danger.

3. Significant Themes

• The vulnerability created by resentment: Tan An’s wounded pride and desire for recognition leave him open to manipulation.
• Appearance versus identity: The demon can imitate Tan An’s face and mannerisms, but its violent instincts and altered attitude reveal that outward resemblance does not preserve the person within.
• Parental concern and duty: Tan Youshan’s harshness is balanced by genuine care, while his commitment to official work contrasts with his son’s growing contempt for responsibility.
• Supernatural infiltration: The demon’s possession introduces the threat of hidden enemies operating within ordinary institutions and families.
• Justice and corruption: Tan An initially wants to report the demon partly out of genuine duty and partly to restore his standing with the magistrate, showing how personal ambition complicates official justice.
• Forgiveness and its consequences: Su’s decision to spare Tan An because of Tan Youshan’s character unintentionally leaves the demon a useful host whose grudge is directed toward Su.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the Wild Daoist: Su assigns him investigative work, while the Daoist warns Su about Cao Yiyan’s suspicious nature.
• Tan An and Tan Youshan: Their strained father-son relationship worsens as Tan An feels judged and Tan Youshan struggles between anger and concern. After the possession, their interaction becomes especially disturbing because Tan Youshan believes he is speaking to his son.
• Tan An and the demon: Their encounter shifts from potential victim and attacker to host and possessor. The demon uses Tan An’s memories and grudge to justify preserving his body.
• The possessed Tan An and Fang Xi: Fang Xi briefly senses that the young runner seems strange, but the moment passes before he can investigate.

Chapter Summary: “Crossing Paths”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tan An’s unauthorized absence from his county yamen post is reported to Zhang Magistrate by people who already dislike him. Because Tan An had also mishandled the murder case and damaged the county’s reputation, Zhang Magistrate dismisses him and orders a replacement.
• Tan An has no one willing to defend him. Even an adviser who previously accepted benefits from him remains silent. His father, Tan Youshan, is so enraged and distressed by the dismissal that he falls ill.
• Meanwhile, Su Ziji travels by boat back to the prefectural city with Ye Buhui, unaware of Tan An’s downfall.
• Su Ziji asks Wild Daoist about Zhang Dacuo’s destruction of his family’s ancestral graves. Wild Daoist explains that the graves originally occupied auspicious land capable of bringing lasting blessings, perhaps even producing a Cultivated Talent or Provincial Graduate. However, the site has been damaged beyond repair and now carries harmful influence.
• Su Ziji asks only for a burial place where his ancestors can rest peacefully, rather than seeking an especially powerful feng shui site. Wild Daoist agrees to continue searching.
• During the journey, Wild Daoist reflects that both Su Ziji and Ye Buhui are difficult to understand. He is also wary of Cao Yiyan, whose identity and motives appear deeply complicated.
• Cao Yiyan privately reasons that Su Ziji may possess the Crown Prince Bloodline of the current dynasty rather than the bloodline of Great Wei, which he had initially suspected. Because court forces are already monitoring Su Ziji, Cao decides not to interfere with him or become involved in the matter.
• Upon reaching the prefectural city, Su Ziji chooses a small private courtyard within the Prefectural Academy instead of renting outside. Ye Buhui will live there with him, and he completes his enrollment using his County Academy credentials and status as Examination Topper.
• Su Ziji visits the academy’s professor and instructor. The chapter ends when a familiar-looking old man approaches him, identifies him as Su Ziji, and reveals that he knows Zheng Yingci.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji continues to demonstrate practicality and composure. He remains concerned about his ancestors but does not pursue unnecessary status or supernatural advantage, showing humility and emotional restraint. His success in the examinations also establishes him as an unusually young and capable scholar.
• Ye Buhui appears to have matured rapidly after her father’s death. Her grief remains visible, but she takes responsibility for arranging their new home and adapting to her changed circumstances.
• Wild Daoist shows genuine concern for both Su Ziji and Ye Buhui. His difficulty reading them suggests that their identities and destinies are unusual, even to someone with his abilities.
• Cao Yiyan is revealed to possess significant knowledge of imperial bloodlines, Dragon Aura, and political or supernatural schemes. He becomes cautious around Su Ziji and deliberately chooses not to provoke or investigate him further.
• Tan An suffers the consequences of his poor judgment, political isolation, and damaged reputation. His dismissal confirms that his position depended more on connections and tolerance from superiors than on loyalty from colleagues.
• Tan Youshan is shown to be deeply invested in his son’s position and honor, reacting so strongly to Tan An’s dismissal that he becomes ill.

Significant Themes

• Political vulnerability and factionalism: Tan An’s removal shows how quickly an official can be displaced when he loses favor, especially when enemies are waiting for an excuse.
• Identity and hidden lineage: Cao Yiyan’s uncertainty about Su Ziji’s bloodline introduces the larger question of Su’s true heritage and his connection to the imperial dynasties.
• Fate, feng shui, and inherited destiny: The damaged ancestral graves symbolize the disruption of Su Ziji’s family fortune, while his rejection of the need for an auspicious site suggests that personal ability or hidden advantages may matter more than traditional fate.
• Grief and adaptation: Ye Buhui’s changed demeanor reflects how the loss of her father has forced her to mature quickly.
• Scholarship and social mobility: Su Ziji’s admission to the Prefectural Academy marks another step in his rise, while the academy itself represents a structured world of education, rank, and opportunity.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Magistrate and Tan An’s hostile relationship culminates in Tan An’s dismissal, with Tan An’s enemies and former allies refusing to intervene.
• Su Ziji and Wild Daoist discuss the ancestral graves, allowing Wild Daoist to explain the spiritual and feng shui consequences of Zhang Dacuo’s actions.
• Wild Daoist observes Ye Buhui’s grief and silently compares her unreadable nature with Su Ziji’s and Cao Yiyan’s.
• Cao Yiyan notices Wild Daoist’s scrutiny and returns it, creating a quiet exchange of mutual suspicion.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui jointly decide where to live, establishing their temporary domestic arrangement at the academy.
• The chapter concludes with Su Ziji meeting the mysterious old man connected to Zheng Yingci, setting up a new relationship and likely revealing more about the academy and Su’s growing network.

Chapter Summary: The Mouse Entered the Rice Granary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji meets Zheng Lixuan, a respected Second-Ranking Presented Scholar and professor at the Prefectural Academy. Zheng reveals that he is Zheng Yingci’s second uncle.
• Zheng Lixuan warmly welcomes Su Ziji, offers him tea and pastries, questions him about his studies, and advises him to attend Instructor Chen Bonan’s afternoon lecture on the Book of Documents.
• Su Ziji returns to the dormitory, where Ye Buhui has bought inexpensive food from stalls outside the academy. They share a simple meal, and Su encourages her to rest after their journey.
• Su Ziji attends his first lecture at the Prefectural Academy. He learns that only sixty or seventy Cultivated Talents study there, but that they face strict annual evaluations. Poor results can lead to demotion or even expulsion, while Provincial Graduates enjoy permanent scholarly status.
• As a Stipend Student, Su immediately attracts the attention of his classmates and Instructor Chen. He remains calm despite their scrutiny.
• Instructor Chen teaches the “Profound Meaning of the Book of Documents,” and Su activates his supernatural learning ability. He receives a large amount of experience, realizing that the academy offers far greater opportunities for growth than his previous school.
• Zheng Lixuan observes Su’s focused study and later discusses him with a hidden companion. He confirms that Su has strong foundations, exceptional talent, diligence, and only lacks guidance from a renowned teacher.
• Zheng Lixuan reveals that he has received an imperial decree concerning Su and intends to fulfill his responsibility. He also questions whether Su could truly possess the Crown Prince’s bloodline, noting discrepancies in the boy’s family history and age.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Displays increasing confidence, composure, and ambition. He recognizes the value of the Prefectural Academy and eagerly uses its superior instruction to accelerate his cultivation and scholarly progress. His success as a Stipend Student makes him stand out among his peers.
• Zheng Lixuan: Develops a favorable impression of Su after questioning him and assessing his talent. Although initially connected to Su through Zheng Yingci, his interest appears to extend beyond family ties. He is also shown to be involved in a secret imperial investigation or assignment concerning Su’s possible royal lineage.
• Ye Buhui: Continues acting as Su’s practical companion and support. She manages their meal arrangements and appears more relaxed after settling into the new residence.
• Instructor Chen Bonan: Is established as a capable and flexible teacher whose understanding of the Book of Documents is especially valuable for examination success, despite failing to become a Presented Scholar himself.

Significant Themes

• The value of education and mentorship: Su’s progress demonstrates that talented students can advance rapidly when given access to skilled teachers and better institutions.
• Scholarly status and social mobility: The chapter emphasizes the harsh hierarchy of the examination system and the importance of advancing from Cultivated Talent to Provincial Graduate.
• Hidden identity and political intrigue: Zheng Lixuan’s private discussion suggests that Su may be connected to the Crown Prince’s bloodline, creating an unresolved mystery around his birth and destiny.
• Confidence and potential: Su’s calm bearing, intelligence, and willingness to learn mark him as someone unlikely to remain in an ordinary position.
• Opportunity after hardship: Su’s delighted reaction to the academy’s resources—likened to a mouse entering a rice granary—highlights his relief at finally finding abundant opportunities for growth.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Zheng Lixuan: Zheng treats Su warmly, offers academic guidance, and evaluates his abilities. Su remains respectful but internally questions whether the kindness is connected to Zheng Yingci or a deeper motive.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: They share a quiet meal and show mutual concern, with Su ensuring that Ye rests after the journey.
• Su Ziji and Instructor Chen: Su respectfully attends Chen’s lecture and benefits greatly from his teaching. Chen’s class becomes Su’s first major academic opportunity at the academy.
• Zheng Lixuan and the unseen observer: Their conversation reveals that Zheng is acting under imperial orders and is investigating Su’s possible connection to the Crown Prince.

Chapter Summary: “Fish and Dragon Mingled in Confusion”

Plot Points and Events

• A secret discussion reveals that Su Ziji must become a Provincial Graduate this year, despite having studied for only three months. Under normal circumstances, even exceptionally talented scholars would need several years.
• The pressure comes from the emperor’s secret investigation into whether Su Ziji possesses the “Dragon Aura,” suggesting that he may be connected to the Crown Prince’s bloodline or another matter of immense political importance.
• Thirteen possible candidates have been selected across the provinces, all receiving similar treatment so that the true target can remain hidden among them—hence the idea of “fish and dragons mingled in confusion.”
• Zheng Lixuan initially refuses to interfere with the Imperial Examinations, insisting that they must remain fair. He is warned, however, that the emperor has personally ordered Su Ziji’s advancement and that the Black-Clad Guard and Eunuch Zhang are involved.
• At the Prefectural Academy, Su Ziji attends Professor Chen Bonan’s lesson and is deeply impressed by Chen’s scholarly understanding, considering it superior even to that of another Provincial Graduate he previously met.
• Su Ziji realizes that listening to one teacher can only provide part of the benefit: another person’s learning must still be transformed into his own understanding. He therefore plans to attend more lessons and learn from more scholars.
• After returning to the dormitory, Su Ziji finds Ye Buhui asleep from exhaustion. He quietly covers her, buys food, gathers firewood, and prepares hot water rather than waking her.
• The couple discusses their finances. Ye Buhui worries about their limited savings and considers finding work, possibly by teaching chess. Su Ziji reassures her that his student stipend—and eventually success in the examinations—will help support them.
• That night, Su Ziji again enters the mysterious Dragon Palace dream. The palace ruins appear somewhat more cleared than before.
• He meets a young girl who resembles the Little Dragon Girl. She calls him “Teacher” and explains that his guidance allowed her to grow. Su Ziji begins to suspect that the Dragon Race’s physical growth is connected not only to time but also to cultivation and strength.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji shows increasing scholarly ambition and insight. He understands that passing the Provincial Examination is now essential, not merely for personal advancement but because powerful forces are watching him.
• His attitude toward learning becomes more systematic: rather than relying on a single instructor, he plans to gather knowledge from many teachers and make it his own.
• Su Ziji also demonstrates tenderness and responsibility toward Ye Buhui, quietly caring for her while recognizing the grief and exhaustion caused by her father’s death.
• Ye Buhui remains emotionally vulnerable after losing Ye Weihan, but her deep sleep suggests the beginning of recovery. She also shows practical strength by worrying about household finances and considering ways to earn money.
• Zheng Lixuan is placed in a difficult moral position. He values the fairness of the examinations but is pressured by imperial authority and the potentially enormous consequences surrounding Su Ziji.
• The Little Dragon Girl appears older and more openly joyful than before, suggesting that Su Ziji’s instruction has directly accelerated her growth.

Significant Themes

• Merit versus political manipulation: The Imperial Examinations are supposed to select talent fairly, yet imperial orders are being used to guarantee Su Ziji’s success.
• Hidden identity and destiny: Su Ziji may be tied to the Crown Prince bloodline or possess Dragon Aura, but the authorities are uncertain and must conceal their investigation.
• Knowledge as transformation: Learning from others is not enough; true understanding requires internalizing and reshaping what one has been taught.
• Responsibility and mutual care: Su Ziji and Ye Buhui support each other while facing grief, poverty, and an uncertain future.
• Growth through cultivation: The Dragon Palace storyline suggests that spiritual or mystical strength may influence physical development and maturity.

Important Character Interactions

• The unseen official pressures Zheng Lixuan to obey the emperor’s order concerning Su Ziji, contrasting Zheng’s commitment to examination fairness with the demands of imperial power.
• Professor Chen Bonan’s teaching significantly influences Su Ziji and reinforces his belief in learning from multiple scholars.
• Su Ziji comforts and cares for Ye Buhui, while she responds by worrying about their finances and seeking ways to contribute.
• In the Dragon Palace, the Little Dragon Girl greets Su Ziji as her teacher and attributes her accelerated growth to his guidance, deepening the connection between them.

Chapter Summary: “Imperial Nectar”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji continues teaching Little Dragon Girl in the Dragon Palace. He quietly tests whether his dream visits have a deeper connection to reality, but she does not notice his probing.
• The Dragon Palace has been repaired, and Little Dragon Girl has begun accumulating books on Confucian teachings, including commentaries on the Analects, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, and Book of Rites.
• Su Ziji reviews lessons with her and reads passages aloud. His teaching produces small amounts of experience and causes faint thunder, mist, and clouds to gather around Little Dragon Girl, suggesting that Confucian learning may be affecting her dragon nature.
• He deliberately attempts to complete the final point needed for the next level of his Coiling Dragon Heart Method. Although his experience reaches 1999/2000, he still fails to break through, implying that reading in the Dragon Palace cannot directly complete the advancement.
• Their lessons expand beyond cultivation. Su Ziji teaches Little Dragon Girl about the mortal world, Confucian philosophy, calligraphy, and painting. He paints flowers, trees, and grasses for her, which delights her.
• Su Ziji wonders whether objects from the Dragon Palace can cross into reality. After waking, however, he finds no ink on his hand, making it seem that the visit was only a dream. He remains uncertain because the wine and food from a previous visit had disappeared afterward.
• Meanwhile, Ye Buhui wakes from a frightening dream in which she becomes lost in fog while trying to return home. Her anxiety and recurring nightmares suggest emotional unease.
• Little Fox discovers golden “Imperial Nectar” descending through the moonlight near Su Ziji. She consumes one of the droplets, apparently gaining an opportunity to increase her cultivation or experience. The phenomenon resembles a previous supernatural state connected to Su Ziji.
• After waking, Su Ziji reflects on the increasing difficulty of gaining experience. He considers developing additional skills to Level 5 so that they can improve his abilities and personal qualities.
• The chapter ends with Su Ziji noticing Little Fox watching him intensely. Her gaze seems strangely greedy, hinting that she may be interested in obtaining more of the Imperial Nectar—or in Su Ziji himself.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Becomes more methodical and ambitious. He tests the rules of his dream visits, experiments with experience gain, and considers broadening his skill development. He also demonstrates strong scholarly abilities as a teacher, calligrapher, and painter.
• Little Dragon Girl: Shows increasing intellectual curiosity and appears to be recovering or improving under Su Ziji’s guidance. Her interest in Confucian learning and mortal culture is growing, while the thunder and mist around her suggest a deeper transformation.
• Ye Buhui: Reveals vulnerability through her nightmare and her fear of losing her way home. Despite her own unease, she remains considerate of Su Ziji’s rest and avoids disturbing him.
• Little Fox: Displays heightened supernatural awareness by detecting the Imperial Nectar. Her willingness to consume it and her final greedy stare suggest growing intelligence, desire, or possible ulterior motives.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as cultivation: Confucian texts, calligraphy, painting, and cultural knowledge are treated as sources of spiritual and experiential growth, not merely academic learning.
• Uncertainty between dream and reality: Su Ziji cannot determine whether his visits to the Dragon Palace are dreams, projections, or physical journeys, creating an ongoing mystery.
• The limits of advancement: Experience requirements rise while rewards decline, forcing Su Ziji to reconsider his methods and pursue a broader range of skills.
• Cultural exchange: Su Ziji introduces Little Dragon Girl to human scholarship and art, while she exposes him to the hidden powers and mysteries of the Dragon Race.
• Desire and supernatural opportunity: The Imperial Nectar represents rare power and attracts Little Fox’s attention, foreshadowing possible competition or conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Little Dragon Girl maintain a warm teacher-student relationship. She eagerly requests further lessons, praises his painting, and asks to keep it.
• Su Ziji tests Little Dragon Girl indirectly, but she remains focused on learning and does not recognize his suspicions.
• Ye Buhui’s concern for Su Ziji is shown through her decision not to wake him, even after her frightening dream.
• Little Fox’s discovery of the Imperial Nectar links her supernatural growth directly to Su Ziji’s mysterious condition and ends the chapter with an ominous shift in their relationship.

Chapter Summary: “Golden Seal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In her dream, Little Dragon Girl studies paintings of plants and longs to see the outside world. She remains trapped in the Water Palace because she has not yet fully inherited it.
• She enters a grand but deteriorated hall and touches the suspended Golden Seal. Its glow briefly causes the phantom of a throne to appear, suggesting that the seal is tied to the Water Palace’s inheritance and authority.
• The Shell Maiden congratulates her and praises Su Ziji, whom Little Dragon Girl regards as an exceptional teacher. His lessons have helped her understand both the Coiling Dragon Secret Art and the mortal world.
• The Water Palace, once abandoned after Dragon Lord’s disappearance, is beginning to recover. Water Shrines are reviving, new Water Demons are helping maintain the palace, and the Shell Maiden believes Little Dragon Girl will eventually restore the Dragon Palace.
• Little Dragon Girl promises to take the Shell Maiden outside once she can leave and vows to inherit the Water Palace and rebuild it.
• Back in the Prefectural Academy, Su Ziji wakes and notices that his cultivation has become slightly more stable, possibly because of his instruction of Little Dragon Girl in the dream.
• He reflects on the scarcity of spiritual energy and why alchemists hunt Monsters for Demon Cores. Although his own cultivation advances slowly, his Golden Finger provides a reliable path of gradual improvement.
• Su Ziji considers exploiting his ability, Literary Heart Carving Dragon, to gain temporary favor from others. He plans to use it to build relationships with students and instructors at the academy.

Character Developments

• Little Dragon Girl: Becomes more confident and hopeful. She is beginning to awaken the authority of the Golden Seal and is increasingly determined to inherit the Water Palace, regain her freedom, and revive the Dragon Palace.
• Shell Maiden: Her long-held despair over the Water Palace’s decline gives way to optimism. She sees Little Dragon Girl as the key to restoring their homeland and eagerly supports her.
• Su Ziji: Shows growing insight into cultivation, spiritual-energy limitations, and the advantages of his Golden Finger. He remains pragmatic, choosing steady skill development over dangerous methods such as hunting Monsters, while also beginning to think strategically about influencing and befriending others.

Significant Themes

• Inheritance and responsibility: Little Dragon Girl’s freedom is inseparable from her duty to inherit and restore the Water Palace.
• Hope after ruin: The revival of the Water Shrines symbolizes the return of the Water Tribe’s former glory after centuries of decline.
• Learning and mentorship: Su Ziji’s teaching succeeds where previous tutors failed, showing the transformative power of meaningful instruction.
• Cultivation as a scarce and practical pursuit: Spiritual energy is limited, making advancement difficult and revealing the harsh, resource-driven nature of the cultivation world.
• Power and relationships: Su Ziji’s Literary Heart Carving Dragon introduces the possibility of rapidly forming connections, though its temporary nature raises questions about genuine friendship versus manipulated favor.

Character Interactions

• Little Dragon Girl and the Shell Maiden share an affectionate, hopeful bond. The Shell Maiden encourages her inheritance of the Water Palace, while Little Dragon Girl promises to bring her outside someday.
• Little Dragon Girl reveres Su Ziji as a teacher whose lessons give her insights into both cultivation and worldly affairs.
• Su Ziji’s dream-based connection with Little Dragon Girl may be benefiting his own cultivation, creating a mutually reinforcing relationship.
• Su Ziji plans to use his special ability to cultivate relationships with the academy’s students and instructors, expanding his social influence.

Chapter Summary: Prefectural Academy Martial Imprinting

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Buhui brings Su Ziji breakfast before class. The two share a warm, domestic meal, with Little Fox begging for food and Ye Buhui defending her from Su Ziji’s teasing.
• Su Ziji reminds Ye Buhui about a valuable game record given to her by Zhang. He encourages her to continue studying chess and pursue the path toward becoming a Chess Sage rather than remaining confined to household life.
• Su Ziji mentions Yu Lü, who arrives at that very moment with his attendant, Qin Mo, to settle into the neighboring dormitory.
• Yu Lü later joins Su Ziji and Ye Buhui for tea. He is pleased to discover that he and Su Ziji are neighbors.
• Yu Lü reflects on Su Ziji’s marriage. He had initially thought Su Ziji married Ye Buhui mainly to repay her family’s kindness, sacrificing the political and social advantages of a more prestigious marriage. Seeing the couple’s harmony—and recognizing Ye Buhui’s beauty and good manners—he now understands and respects Su Ziji’s choice.
• On the way to class, Su Ziji considers using the mysterious technique Literary Heart Carving Dragon on Yu Lü as part of his plan for “Prefectural Academy Martial Imprinting.” However, because Yu Lü sincerely regards him as a friend, Su Ziji cannot bring himself to exploit him through an unnatural method.
• Yu Lü praises the Prefectural Academy’s peaceful environment and excellent instructors. He also tells Su Ziji that Professor Zheng Lixuan has praised Su’s learning, character, and talent.
• Yu Lü points out Ding Ruili, the son of Assistant Prefect Ding and the Examination Topper two years earlier. Ding appears openly displeased by Zheng Lixuan’s praise of Su Ziji, suggesting rivalry and resentment.
• Su Ziji approaches Ding politely and attempts to activate Literary Heart Carving Dragon, but an intense pain in his brow warns him that using the technique would lead to danger.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Shows affection and concern for Ye Buhui, supports her intellectual ambitions, and remains cautious about Little Fox. His refusal to use Literary Heart Carving Dragon on Yu Lü reveals his loyalty and moral restraint. His reaction to Ding also demonstrates his confidence and willingness to face rivals diplomatically, though the mysterious warning reveals that his powers may have limitations or hidden risks.
• Ye Buhui: Continues adapting to married life while maintaining her gentle and capable nature. She cares for the household, defends Little Fox, and remains genuinely interested in chess. Su Ziji’s encouragement strengthens her opportunity to develop her own talent and reputation.
• Yu Lü: Arrives as Su Ziji’s new neighbor and shows sincere friendship and admiration. His initial doubts about Su Ziji’s marriage soften after observing the couple’s genuine affection and harmony.
• Little Fox: Acts spoiled and food-motivated but is treated affectionately by Ye Buhui. Su Ziji remains suspicious of her despite her harmless appearance.
• Ding Ruili: Introduced as a proud and accomplished scholar who appears jealous of Su Ziji’s growing reputation. His reaction establishes him as a likely rival.
• Professor Zheng Lixuan: Though not directly present, he is characterized through Yu Lü’s report as a discerning scholar who respects Su Ziji’s abilities.

Significant Themes

• Marriage based on affection rather than status: Yu Lü’s changing opinion highlights the value of genuine companionship over political advantage or social prestige.
• Support for women’s talent and independence: Su Ziji refuses to restrict Ye Buhui to domestic life and actively encourages her pursuit of chess.
• Friendship and moral boundaries: Su Ziji’s decision not to use Literary Heart Carving Dragon on Yu Lü shows that personal loyalty can outweigh strategic gain.
• Intellectual competition: The academy represents a setting where reputation, talent, and scholarly achievement create rivalries, particularly between Su Ziji and Ding Ruili.
• The danger of unnatural power: Su Ziji’s physical warning suggests that Literary Heart Carving Dragon carries consequences and cannot be used freely.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui share a comfortable, affectionate domestic relationship, with playful teasing and mutual care.
• Ye Buhui and Little Fox interact warmly, while Su Ziji maintains a wary, teasing attitude toward the animal.
• Su Ziji and Yu Lü display sincere friendship, intellectual respect, and growing closeness as neighbors.
• Yu Lü’s observations of Su Ziji and Ye Buhui reveal his evolving respect for their marriage.
• Su Ziji learns of Zheng Lixuan’s favorable opinion through Yu Lü, increasing his curiosity about the professor.
• Su Ziji formally approaches Ding Ruili, but the sudden pain preventing him from using his technique leaves their relationship poised for conflict.

Chapter Summary: Literary Heart Carving Dragon Activates

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji reflects on the academy’s martial contest and recognizes its importance. Because the Crown Prince Bloodline remains a threat, he wants to strengthen his position and explore whether winning the loyalty of many students can provide additional “Seeds of Humanity” for advancing the Coiling Dragon Heart Method.
• He tests [Literary Heart Carving Dragon], a technique that can influence others’ feelings toward him. The ability does not work freely: it is limited by the target’s strength, existing attitude, and the sincerity of the interaction.
• At the Prefectural Academy, Ding Ruili pointedly ignores Su Ziji’s greeting, while the other scholars respond politely. Su activates the technique, causing Zhuang Hongrong—previously Ding Ruili’s follower and social subordinate—to become favorably disposed toward him and smooth over the awkward atmosphere.
• During Instructor Chen Bonan’s lecture on the Book of Documents, Su absorbs diminishing amounts of experience because he has already learned much of the material.
• Chen asks the class to interpret a passage concerning Yao, Heaven, astronomy, and the calendar. Su answers correctly and expands on the passage, arguing that the central principle of the Book of Documents is reverence for Heaven’s Mandate and obedience to the sovereign.
• His interpretation deeply impresses Chen Bonan. The instructor’s admiration rises sharply, and Su realizes that the technique works particularly well when the target already possesses goodwill toward him.
• Su observes that Zhuang Hongrong admires him, Chen Bonan appreciates him, and Ding Ruili grows increasingly jealous. He concludes that the technique can accelerate the formation of relationships, though temporary goodwill must be reinforced through genuine actions and shared interests.
• After class, Yu Lü invites Su to drink. Before leaving, Su returns home and uses Zhang Modong’s handwritten Go records to advance his Go skill from Level 4 to Level 5, raising his Intelligence from 13 to 14.
• Ye Buhui offers to cook and play Go with him. Though Su initially plans to decline because he has an engagement with Yu Lü, he notices her disappointment and promises to play with her later, immediately restoring her happiness.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji becomes more strategic and perceptive about the limits and potential of [Literary Heart Carving Dragon]. He learns that the ability is not simple mind control but a way to amplify existing goodwill, which must then be solidified through real interaction.
• He also demonstrates increasing political awareness, recognizing the value of cultivating broad support among academy students and influential figures.
• Zhuang Hongrong shifts from serving as Ding Ruili’s foil to admiring Su Ziji, becoming more open and supportive of him.
• Instructor Chen Bonan develops a significantly higher opinion of Su after hearing his interpretation of the Book of Documents, regarding him as someone who understands its deepest political and moral principles.
• Ding Ruili becomes more resentful and jealous as Su gains the admiration of others.
• Ye Buhui shows affection and emotional sensitivity. Su demonstrates that he values her feelings by changing his response and promising to spend time playing Go with her.
• Su Ziji’s abilities continue to grow: his Go skill reaches Level 5, his Intelligence increases, and his understanding of his literary technique deepens.

Significant Themes

• Influence versus genuine relationships: The chapter explores how supernatural influence can open the door to connection, but lasting loyalty requires sincere effort and meaningful interaction.
• Social strategy and political survival: Su’s cultivation of allies is tied to the looming danger of the Crown Prince Bloodline, emphasizing the importance of preparation, reputation, and networks of support.
• Heaven’s Mandate and obedience to authority: Su’s interpretation of the Book of Documents stresses reverence for Heaven and submission to the emperor, reflecting the political ideology of the setting.
• Knowledge as power: Su gains both practical influence and system rewards through scholarship, recitation, and the strategic absorption of written records.
• Emotional consideration: Su’s response to Ye Buhui shows that his relationships are not purely calculated; he can recognize and respond to another person’s feelings.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and Ding Ruili: Their relationship remains hostile and competitive. Ding refuses Su’s greeting and reacts bitterly to Su’s growing popularity.
• Su Ziji and Zhuang Hongrong: Through the literary technique and Su’s conduct, Zhuang becomes admiring and helps ease tension among the scholars.
• Su Ziji and Chen Bonan: Su’s insightful answer earns Chen’s admiration, while Su learns that Chen’s preexisting goodwill allows the technique to function.
• Su Ziji and Yu Lü: Yu invites Su to drink after class, indicating growing camaraderie.
• Su Ziji and Ye Buhui: Their affectionate domestic interaction reveals mutual care. Su prioritizes her feelings by promising to play Go with her despite his lack of interest in the subject.

Chapter Summary: “First Cry of Martial Prowess”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji’s calligraphy improves to Level 5, increasing his Charm from 12 to 13. He realizes that advancing literary skills can also enhance his natural aptitude.
• His heightened intelligence allows him to understand the Four Books and Five Classics more quickly and connect ideas he previously found difficult.
• Su writes an impressive poem and produces calligraphy good enough to meet the standards of the Provincial Examination.
• Yu Lü praises Su’s rapid progress and predicts that he will excel in the Autumn Examination, though Su privately recognizes that passing the examination so soon is normally impossible.
• The chapter explains the extreme difficulty of advancing from Cultivated Talent to Provincial Graduate and eventually Presented Scholar. Su estimates that even with his advantages, these achievements would require years of study.
• Yu Lü warns Su about the intense competition at the Autumn Examination, where thousands of Cultivated Talents will compete for roughly one hundred positions.
• Ding Ruili is identified as a leading candidate because he studies under Yu, a Second-Ranking Presented Scholar and former Hanlin Academy official. Yu Lü worries that Su’s strained relationship with Ding may cause problems.
• Su acknowledges Ding’s genuine talent and strong background but privately believes he may be able to compete for the top position after several months of focused study.
• Zhuang Hongrong arrives with a watermelon, and Cao Xingxue joins the group. The friends discuss chess, studying, and their academic ambitions.
• Cao asks Su to explain a text as part of their usual study routine. When Cao begins teaching from Cao’s Suishui Notes, Su accepts the system’s prompt to learn it.

Character Development

• Su Ziji: Becomes more confident in his intellectual and artistic abilities. His improved Charm and intelligence reinforce his belief that he can challenge elite scholars, though he remains realistic about the enormous gap between examination levels. He also continues using his friends’ lessons to expand his knowledge.
• Yu Lü: Acts as a supportive friend and mentor figure. Although impressed by Su’s progress, he remains humble and anxious about the Autumn Examination. His concern over Su’s conflict with Ding shows loyalty and practical awareness.
• Ding Ruili: Though absent, he is characterized as talented, hardworking, proud, and well-connected. His mentorship under a renowned scholar makes him Su’s most important academic rival.
• Cao Xingxue: Demonstrates humility and a sincere desire to improve academically despite his family’s decline. He contributes to the group’s shared learning.
• Zhuang Hongrong: Maintains the lively, sociable atmosphere among the students and helps strengthen the group’s camaraderie.
• Yu Lü’s sister-in-law: Her reputation as a skilled chess player is highlighted, establishing her as another accomplished figure within the characters’ social circle.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus sustained effort: Natural intelligence and system-enhanced ability give Su an advantage, but the examination hierarchy still requires years of learning and perseverance.
• The difficulty of social advancement: The Imperial Examination system is presented as a steep series of barriers, especially between Cultivated Talent, Provincial Graduate, and Presented Scholar.
• Humility and realistic ambition: Su recognizes his extraordinary potential while avoiding Yu Lü’s overly optimistic assumptions. He aims high but understands the limits of his current preparation.
• Learning as cooperation: The friends study together, exchange knowledge, and support one another rather than competing exclusively as rivals.
• Connections and privilege: Ding’s access to a famous teacher illustrates how family status and scholarly networks can significantly influence examination prospects.
• Self-improvement and hidden power: Su’s supernatural pendant transforms ordinary study and artistic practice into measurable growth in intelligence, Charm, and knowledge.

Character Interactions

• Yu Lü admires Su’s poem and calligraphy, encourages him about the Autumn Examination, and cautions him about Ding Ruili.
• Su responds modestly, praising the Academy and encouraging Yu Lü while privately assessing everyone’s actual chances.
• Zhuang Hongrong interrupts the conversation with food and jokes, keeping the atmosphere relaxed.
• Cao Xingxue joins the discussion, speaks modestly about his own abilities, and resumes the group’s customary practice of having Su explain what he reads.
• The chapter ends with Su accepting Cao’s instruction, showing that even as his abilities grow, he continues learning through his companions.

Chapter Summary: “Jealousy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji gains a large amount of experience after absorbing Cao’s Suishui Notes, bringing him close to Level Eight.
• He explains a passage from the text to Cao Xingxue, Yu Lü, and Zhuang Hongrong. His clear and profound interpretation grants him additional experience as the three students listen with growing admiration.
• Su Ziji realizes that his ability, combined with the Literary Heart Carving Dragon technique, can help him build lasting influence in the academy. Rather than relying only on supernatural favorability, he plans to use genuine teaching and valuable books to attract talented students and establish a reputation.
• He predicts that students who follow him will gain access to insights and hidden experience, while opponents such as Ding Ruili will gradually become isolated.
• At home, Ding Ruili struggles with his assigned essay and feels increasing pressure from his teacher and family. He is especially troubled by the loss of his former central position in the academies.
• Although Ding Ruili had not initially intended to oppose Su Ziji, he becomes jealous and threatened when students and instructors begin favoring the newcomer.
• Seeking relief, Ding Ruili leaves the city and stops at a roadside pavilion. There, a mysterious man named Tan An approaches him after apparently causing his page to leave.
• Tan An manipulates Ding Ruili’s weakened and confused state, convincing him that Su Ziji is secretly scheming to replace him and take the title of Top Provincial Graduate.
• Tan An intensifies Ding Ruili’s insecurity by emphasizing the humiliation his family and teacher would suffer if a poor-born student surpassed him.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji grows more confident and strategic. He understands that his true advantage lies not only in his system or supernatural abilities, but in combining them with authentic knowledge and instruction.
• He begins developing a long-term method for building a scholarly faction: attract students, teach them effectively, and encourage them to provide new books that may yield experience.
• Cao Xingxue, Yu Lü, and Zhuang Hongrong become deeply impressed by Su Ziji’s scholarship. Their reactions demonstrate that he is rapidly gaining loyal admirers through his teaching.
• Ding Ruili changes from a relatively cautious senior student into someone consumed by anxiety and jealousy. His confidence collapses as he compares his privileged background and previous achievements with Su Ziji’s sudden rise.
• Tan An is revealed as a manipulative and possibly supernatural figure. He exploits Ding Ruili’s emotional vulnerability rather than presenting evidence, using flattery and fear to turn insecurity into hostility.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and insecurity: Ding Ruili’s resentment comes less from direct conflict with Su Ziji than from fear of losing status and being exposed as inferior.
• Merit versus privilege: Su Ziji is a poor-born student whose talent threatens the standing of someone raised with wealth, education, and social advantages.
• Influence through genuine ability: The chapter contrasts empty manipulation with real achievement. Su Ziji’s influence becomes durable because his supernatural abilities are supported by useful knowledge.
• Reputation and social standing: Academic success affects not only the students themselves but also their families, teachers, and political prestige.
• Manipulation of the vulnerable: Tan An demonstrates how easily wounded pride can be redirected into suspicion and hostility.
• Competition and faction-building: The academy is portrayed as a social and intellectual arena where students gather around promising figures and abandon those whose influence declines.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji teaches Cao Xingxue, Yu Lü, and Zhuang Hongrong, earning their admiration through an explanation that feels almost enlightening.
• His interaction with these students reveals his emerging role as a mentor and potential leader within the academy.
• Ding Ruili has no direct encounter with Su Ziji in the chapter, but his thoughts are dominated by Su’s growing popularity and perceived threat.
• Tan An interacts with Ding Ruili in the pavilion, first disorienting him and then manipulating him through praise, fear, and appeals to family honor.
• Tan An presents himself as acquainted with Su Ziji, using that claimed connection to make his warnings appear credible and to deepen Ding Ruili’s suspicion.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ding Ruili is provoked by Tan An into comparing himself with Su Ziji. His pride and buried jealousy are inflamed, despite his strong family background, education, and confidence in his own talent.
• Tan An reveals that he has used a psychological or spiritual technique to intensify Ding Ruili’s existing insecurity. The technique causes backlash, making Tan An cough up black blood, but he accepts the cost because he is acting under the King’s orders.
• Ding Ruili returns home in a deeply negative state. His poor mood affects his writing, and his teacher, Yu, criticizes an essay for being restless and poorly composed.
• A week later, Yu shows Ding Ruili an impressive essay by Su Ziji, praising the boy’s rapid improvement and talent. Although Su’s essay is still slightly inferior to Ding’s, it is vastly better than his earlier work.
• Ding Ruili is alarmed by Su’s astonishing progress and secretly becomes more hostile toward him. Outwardly, he pretends to admire Su and agrees with his teacher’s advice that the two should associate.
• Tan An unexpectedly appears inside Ding Ruili’s room and offers to reveal a secret about Su Ziji. He proposes an alliance, claiming that he can help Ding bring Su down.
• Though suspicious, Ding Ruili does not summon help. He studies Tan An and realizes that the dismissed yamen runner is far more mysterious, confident, and powerful than his background suggests. The chapter ends with Ding demanding to know who sent Tan An.

Character Developments

• Ding Ruili: His pride and competitiveness develop into intense jealousy and paranoia. He is especially disturbed by Su Ziji’s rapid improvement and begins viewing him as a threat to his position as Top Provincial Graduate. Although he remains cautious and intelligent, his judgment is increasingly shaped by resentment.
• Tan An: He is revealed to possess a dangerous influence technique and to be willing to endure severe backlash to fulfill the King’s orders. His confidence, ability to infiltrate the Assistant Prefect’s residence, and knowledge of Ding’s weaknesses establish him as a mysterious and formidable manipulator.
• Su Ziji: Though absent from the main events, Su’s reputation grows significantly. His writing has improved dramatically in a short period, making him a genuine rival to Ding Ruili and earning praise from respected scholars.
• Yu: Ding’s teacher is supportive and proud of his student, but also perceptive enough to criticize Ding’s deteriorating work. He encourages Ding to form connections with Su because of their shared academic and potentially official futures.
• Wen Dong: He notices Ding Ruili’s strange mood but remains too intimidated to question him, emphasizing Ding’s increasingly troubled behavior.

Significant Themes

• Pride and insecurity: Ding’s achievements and prestigious background cannot protect him from jealousy when confronted with Su’s talent and progress.
• Manipulation and vulnerability: Tan An does not create Ding’s resentment but amplifies feelings already present, showing how hidden weaknesses can be exploited.
• Talent versus status: Ding possesses superior family connections and formal credentials, yet Su’s natural ability and rapid growth threaten to surpass him.
• Competition and political relationships: Yu emphasizes that academic success is tied not only to ability but also to friendships and alliances formed among fellow examinees.
• Hidden identities and power: Tan An’s low social status contrasts sharply with his supernatural confidence and abilities, suggesting that appearances conceal deeper forces at work.

Character Interactions

• Ding Ruili and Tan An: Their first meeting leaves Ding psychologically unsettled. In their second encounter, Tan An takes the initiative, openly exploiting Ding’s jealousy and offering an alliance against Su. Ding responds with suspicion and threats but remains interested.
• Ding Ruili and Yu: Yu criticizes Ding’s poor essay, then later praises Su’s work in front of him. Yu’s sincere encouragement unintentionally deepens Ding’s resentment.
• Ding Ruili and Su Ziji: They do not meet directly, but Su dominates Ding’s thoughts. Ding increasingly regards him as a rival who may steal his expected academic honor.
• Ding Ruili and Wen Dong: Wen Dong observes his master’s unusual behavior but remains silent, reflecting Ding’s authority and isolation.

Summary of “Caught in the Snare”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tan An secretly meets Ding Ruili in his study. Although Wen Dong enters the room, he cannot see Tan An, convincing Ding that Tan may be a ghost or supernatural being.
• Tan An claims to be a dismissed yamen runner whose wife was stolen by Su Ziji, presenting himself as someone who shares Ding’s hatred of Su.
• He reveals that Su Ziji allegedly used taboo characters in his County Examination essay, but Zhang Magistrate and the examination instructor helped alter the essay so that Su could pass.
• Ding realizes this could constitute serious examination fraud and official corruption. However, Tan An explains that reporting it would likely achieve little because Su’s County Examination qualification is not yet a true scholarly rank, and higher authorities may not investigate an old offense.
• Tan An shifts the conversation toward Ding’s fear of losing the title of Top Provincial Graduate to Su Ziji. He warns that Su’s rapid improvement could allow him to surpass Ding in the upcoming Autumn Examination.
• After deliberately influencing Ding with an incense stick, Tan An persuades him to consider permanently ruining Su’s future by crippling him.
• Tan An proposes a plan: Ding will lure Su Ziji to a scenic lake near Sourcewater Town, while Tan hides near the abandoned Water Shrine and attacks Su during the confusion, damaging his face and injuring him. Tan argues that even if Su later becomes a Provincial Graduate, a disfigured appearance would end his prospects.

Character Developments

• Ding Ruili begins suspicious and guarded, recognizing Tan An’s story may be designed to manipulate him. Nevertheless, his jealousy and fear of Su’s academic advancement gradually overpower his caution.
• Ding’s hostility toward Su intensifies under the influence of the mysterious technique or incense. He moves from merely wanting to outcompete Su to considering crippling him.
• Even after accepting the plan, Ding retains some awareness of the danger. He questions why Tan will not carry out the attack himself and worries about being blackmailed or implicated.
• Tan An is revealed as calculating, vengeful, and skilled at exploiting others’ emotions. He combines partial truths, threats to Ding’s ambitions, and supernatural influence to draw Ding into a conspiracy.
• Tan’s stated hatred of Su may be genuine, but his refusal to act personally suggests he has another motive—possibly avoiding the backlash associated with harming Su or using Ding as a tool.
• Wen Dong remains unaware of the conspiracy because he cannot perceive Tan at all, reinforcing the supernatural mystery surrounding Tan.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and entrapment: Tan An gradually leads Ding from suspicion to complicity, creating a “snare” through carefully chosen information and psychological pressure.
• Jealousy and ambition: Ding’s desire to become Top Provincial Graduate makes him vulnerable to immoral choices.
• Corruption and examination politics: The alleged alteration of Su’s essay highlights the power of officials, favoritism, and the potentially severe consequences of academic fraud.
• Moral decline and revenge: A relatively minor rivalry escalates into a plan to permanently destroy Su’s body and future.
• Appearance and social status: Tan’s proposal to disfigure Su reflects how physical appearance can affect reputation, career prospects, and advancement in the scholarly world.
• Supernatural influence: Tan’s invisibility to Wen Dong and his use of incense suggest that Ding’s violent decision may not be entirely his own.

Character Interactions

• Tan and Ding engage in a tense, manipulative exchange: Ding questions Tan’s identity and motives, while Tan answers selectively and exploits Ding’s fears.
• Tan presents himself as an ally by claiming shared hatred of Su, but his superior composure and strategic reasoning reveal that he is directing the conversation.
• Ding challenges Tan’s motives, suspecting he wants Ding to take the risk while benefiting himself. Despite this, Ding ultimately agrees to consider luring Su into the ambush.
• Wen Dong’s brief interaction with Ding contrasts with the hidden conversation, as he treats the room as empty and remains completely unaware of Tan’s presence.

Chapter Summary: “Invitation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tan An proposes luring Su Ziji to the Water Shrine in Sourcewater Town, where a forbidden area and rumors of Monsters could conceal an attack or provide a convenient explanation for his death.
• Though uneasy about the plan, Ding Ruili agrees. He secretly investigates the shrine and confirms that no traps are present.
• The next day, Ding takes leave from his teacher and waits outside the Prefectural Academy.
• He observes Su Ziji leaving school surrounded by more than thirty Cultivated Talents, all eager to speak with him and exchange scholarly notes.
• Su Ziji’s wife, Ye Buhui, arrives to accompany him. Their affectionate interaction reveals their growing marital closeness.
• Ding approaches Su and invites him to visit Sourcewater Town during the Academy’s ten-day break, claiming that several friends wish to meet the increasingly famous scholar.
• Su accepts, though both he and Ye Buhui sense that Ding is acting unnaturally and may harbor hidden intentions.
• Su reflects on his rapid progress through exchanging and reading scholarly notes. His Literary Heart Carving Dragon ability has helped others advance while allowing him to absorb valuable knowledge.
• He also considers the difficulty of learning martial arts, since such techniques are closely guarded and cannot easily be acquired through books.

Character Developments

• Ding Ruili: Becomes actively involved in the scheme against Su Ziji. Although he presents himself as friendly and conciliatory, his forced smile and gloomy demeanor reveal inner unease. He is increasingly suspicious and fearful of Su’s influence.
• Su Ziji: Has rapidly gained popularity and authority among the Academy’s Cultivated Talents. He understands that his apparent charisma is largely enhanced by his supernatural literary ability, which benefits both himself and those who study with him. Despite accepting Ding’s invitation, he remains alert.
• Ye Buhui: Shows greater affection and confidence in her marriage. She admires Su’s willingness to prioritize her happiness and demonstrates perceptiveness by sensing that Ding’s behavior is suspicious.
• Tan An: Continues to manipulate Ding Ruili and directs the plan to use the Water Shrine as the site of the intended ambush.

Significant Themes

• Influence and hidden motives: Su’s growing circle appears to result from personal charm, but in reality it is carefully supported by supernatural power and the students’ desire for advancement.
• Trust versus suspicion: Ding disguises hostile intentions beneath an invitation, while Su and Ye Buhui recognize that something is wrong despite lacking proof.
• Knowledge as power: The exchange of handwritten notes allows Su to gain knowledge efficiently while helping others improve, creating a mutually beneficial scholarly network.
• Marriage and affection: Su’s sincere attention to Ye Buhui contrasts with the era’s expectation that men place study and public achievement above domestic life.
• Limits of advancement: Su’s literary progress is accelerating, but the value of the notes available to him is diminishing. Martial knowledge remains inaccessible because it is guarded by families and sects.

Important Character Interactions

• Tan An persuades Ding Ruili that the Water Shrine is a suitable place to eliminate Su.
• Su and Ye Buhui exchange affectionate remarks, revealing their emotional intimacy and mutual support.
• Ding invites Su to Sourcewater Town under the pretense of friendship and scholarly hospitality.
• Ye Buhui warns Su that Ding’s demeanor feels wrong, and Su agrees that caution is necessary.
• Su’s interactions with the Academy’s students demonstrate how his reading sessions have created loyalty and admiration among them.

Chapter Summary: “Ancestral Rite”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji travels from the prefectural city to prosperous Sourcewater Town, reflecting on how a society with supernatural powers can maintain apparent harmony.
• He notices a patrol inspector and senses that someone may be watching him, heightening his suspicion.
• At the Water Shrine, Su Ziji meets Ding Ruili, who claims the others have already entered and leads him toward a secluded grove.
• The shrine appears neglected but retains traces of its former importance, including ancient murals depicting the Water Tribe and a powerful water deity.
• Ding Ruili’s unnatural behavior alarms Su Ziji. He leads Su Ziji toward some abandoned shrine buildings, then abruptly excuses himself and leaves.
• Su Ziji realizes the meeting is likely a trap. Mist and a sinister wind appear, attacking him repeatedly.
• He evades the first attacks and then uses his blade to disperse the wind, discovering that it is a supernatural manifestation rather than ordinary air.
• A familiar figure emerges from the mist: Tan An, formerly an ordinary constable, who identifies Su Ziji as one of Great Zheng’s “Dragon Scions.”

Character Developments

• Su Ziji remains cautious and observant. His spiritual sensitivity allows him to detect surveillance and recognize the Water Shrine’s strangeness. Rather than panic when attacked, he calmly analyzes the threat and responds decisively with his blade.
• Ding Ruili behaves increasingly suspiciously. Although he presents himself as a guide and companion, his unnatural excitement and convenient departure reveal that he is likely involved in the ambush.
• Tan An is revealed to possess supernatural power or at least knowledge of it. He has transformed from a mundane constable into a menacing figure consumed by deep hatred toward Su Ziji.

Significant Themes

• Hidden supernatural forces beneath ordinary prosperity: Sourcewater Town appears peaceful and prosperous, but ancient shrines, spiritual power, and supernatural conflict exist beneath the surface.
• The decline of old traditions: The abandoned Water Shrine and faded murals symbolize the loss of former religious and supernatural authority.
• Suspicion and concealed motives: Su Ziji must read people’s behavior carefully, especially Ding Ruili’s contradictory actions.
• Identity and power: Tan An’s accusation that Su Ziji is a “Dragon Scion” suggests that Su Ziji’s true identity or inherited abilities are connected to a larger political and supernatural struggle.
• The return of past conflicts: Tan An’s hatred indicates unresolved consequences from earlier events, particularly the Mount Tong Temple incident.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji exchanges a brief, courteous greeting with the patrol inspector, using his scholar’s status to pass without trouble.
• Ding Ruili welcomes Su Ziji and claims to guide him to the others, but his suspicious behavior gradually exposes the interaction as a setup.
• Su Ziji internally questions Ding Ruili’s motives, wondering whether the Imperial Examinations or another hidden advantage is involved.
• After enduring the supernatural attack, Su Ziji confronts Tan An, whose hostile declaration transforms the encounter from an apparent gathering into a direct confrontation rooted in hatred and hidden identities.

Chapter Summary: “The Heavenly Net”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Ziji realizes that the person posing as Tan An is not the real Tan An, but a demon possessing or controlling his body.
• The demon explains that the abandoned Water Shrine is an ancestral shrine protected by ancient prohibitions. Su Ziji should have been suppressed by them, unless he possesses the bloodline of a powerful Dragon Scion.
• Su Ziji probes the demon for information about Dragon Scions, but it refuses to reveal more and attacks him with iron claws.
• During the fight, Su Ziji deduces that the demon is not as powerful as it pretends to be. Its elaborate scheme—using Ding Ruili to lure him to the shrine—shows that it lacks the strength to confront him directly.
• Su Ziji counters with his swift, battlefield-derived Military Slaughter Method, overwhelming the demon and stabbing Tan An’s body through the heart.
• Before dying, the possessed Tan An reveals that he was sent by Prince Qi, who is backed by the Demon Race. He also implies that Su Ziji is connected to the Crown Prince’s bloodline.
• Tan An’s body is destroyed, and the true demon emerges as a black, incorporeal shadow. It attempts to immobilize Su Ziji with the shrine’s mist and bite off his head.
• Su Ziji breaks free from the shrine’s restrictions and stabs the demon directly. The wound is empowered by Dragon Aura, preventing the demon from healing.
• The demon finally accepts that Su Ziji is one of Great Zheng’s Dragon Scions and attempts to escape, realizing that merely confirming his bloodline is enough to complete its mission.
• As the demon flees through the mist, the shrine’s prohibitions reform into a “heavenly net,” blocking its escape and trapping it once more.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji demonstrates sharper strategic judgment, recognizing that the demon’s caution comes from weakness rather than overwhelming power.
• He reveals greater mastery of the Military Slaughter Method, using rapid and relentless attacks to defeat the possessed Tan An.
• His hidden identity becomes clearer: he possesses Dragon Aura and is likely connected to the Crown Prince’s bloodline, confirming the suspicions surrounding his status as a Dragon Scion.
• Su Ziji also shows increased decisiveness. Once he identifies the demon as an enemy, he immediately tries to prevent its escape rather than allowing it to report back.
• Tan An/the demon is exposed as an infiltrating agent rather than the real Tan An. Though arrogant and initially confident, it becomes increasingly shocked by Su Ziji’s strength and the Dragon Aura’s ability to destroy its body.
• The demon reveals internal distrust among its allies, blaming Cao Yiyan for concealing information and sending it into danger.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identity and bloodline: Su Ziji’s true connection to the Dragon Scions and the Crown Prince gradually emerges through the demon’s reactions.
• Strength versus deception: The demon relies on possession, manipulation, and the shrine’s restrictions, but Su Ziji sees through its tactics and defeats it through direct action.
• Political and demonic intrigue: The conflict is tied to rival princes, the Crown Prince’s death, Daoist support for Prince Shu, and demonic support for Prince Qi.
• Inherited power and suppression: The shrine’s prohibitions can suppress ordinary humans, but Su Ziji’s Dragon Aura allows him to resist supernatural forces that should have been fatal.
• The danger of unfinished enemies: Even after defeating the demon’s physical host, Su Ziji recognizes that the escaping spirit remains a serious threat and must be stopped.

Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the demon/Tan An: Their exchange begins as a verbal test, with Su Ziji trying to gather information about Dragon Scions. The demon responds with contempt and attacks, leading to a fierce battle.
• Su Ziji and Prince Qi: Though Prince Qi does not appear directly, the demon confirms that he is behind the attack and has allied with the Demon Race.
• The demon and Cao Yiyan: The demon’s accusation suggests that Cao Yiyan deliberately withheld important information and used it as a disposable agent.
• The Water Shrine and the demon: The ancestral shrine first serves as the demon’s weapon, restricting Su Ziji, but ultimately turns against the demon by forming a heavenly net that prevents its escape.

Chapter Summary: “Impossible”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The ancestral shrine unexpectedly binds and weakens the Demon Ghost, despite its belief that its identity as a member of the Demon Race should protect it.
• Su Ziji seizes the opportunity and attacks with his short blade. A Young Dragon phantom appears above him and deflects the Demon Ghost’s resistance, allowing the blade to pierce it.
• The Demon Ghost is destroyed in a burst of white light. The light purifies Su Ziji of the sinister influence he absorbed from approaching it and causes the Water Shrine’s sacrificial stone to tremble.
• A huge pillar of light rises from the shrine, resonating with Su Ziji’s Young Dragon phantom and giving the previously lifeless dragon a hint of vitality. The Demon Ghost recognizes the power as related to the long-lost Dragon Race before vanishing completely.
• At the shrine’s mural wall, Ding Ruili and two scholars discuss the historical significance of the shrine’s stele, particularly why its former Grand Investiture was abolished.
• The pillar of light attracts everyone’s attention and causes panic and speculation that the Dragon Lord has manifested.
• Ding Ruili initially remembers that he helped the Demon Ghost endanger Su Ziji and considers reporting the incident to his teacher. However, a strange red light briefly alters his eyes and seems to influence his emotions and judgment.
• He decides instead to frame Su Ziji by claiming that Tan An’s corpse will be found at the shrine and that Su Ziji should be investigated. He encourages two scholars to report the disturbance to the authorities.
• The patrol inspector arrives with constables and questions the shrine keeper. The shrine keeper reports the pillar of light but claims there was nothing unusual at the ancestral shrine except old bloodstains.
• Ding Ruili searches for Tan An’s corpse, apparently believing it to be in a dried-up well, but then sees Su Ziji approaching. Fearing that exposing the truth could implicate him, Ding Ruili abandons the immediate accusation and leaves to devise another plan.

Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Demonstrates decisiveness and courage by killing the Demon Ghost. His connection to the Young Dragon and the Dragon Race becomes more significant, as the dragon phantom grows more lifelike after resonating with the shrine’s power. He is also cleansed of demonic contamination.
• Ding Ruili: Reveals himself as manipulative and malicious. He attempts to distance himself from the attempted murder of Su Ziji while plotting to use Tan An’s death to ruin Su Ziji’s reputation and end his chances in the Autumn Examination. His brief transformation of the eyes suggests that demonic influence or possession continues to affect him.
• The Demon Ghost: Changes from confident and defiant to terrified and incredulous when the shrine binds it and Dragon power appears. Its final words imply a past connection between the Demon Race, the Dragon Race, and someone named Ji Jun.
• The shrine keeper and patrol inspector: Act as witnesses and representatives of official authority, documenting the supernatural event without understanding its true cause.

Significant Themes

• The return of ancient power: The Young Dragon and the Water Shrine suggest that the Dragon Race, believed to have vanished, may be reawakening.
• Divine judgment versus demonic corruption: The ancestral shrine’s power destroys the Demon Ghost and purifies Su Ziji, presenting sacred power as a force capable of exposing and eliminating hidden evil.
• Manipulation and self-preservation: Ding Ruili prioritizes avoiding blame over justice, attempting to weaponize official procedures against Su Ziji.
• History and forgotten authority: The discussion of the abolished Grand Investiture hints that the shrine’s past importance—and perhaps the political suppression of its worship—may be connected to the returning Dragon power.
• Truth obscured by appearances: Public witnesses see only a miraculous pillar of light, while the real conflict and Ding Ruili’s treachery remain hidden.

Important Character Interactions

• Su Ziji and the Demon Ghost: Their confrontation ends with Su Ziji killing the demon through the combined force of his blade, the Young Dragon phantom, and the ancestral shrine.
• Su Ziji and the Young Dragon: The dragon spirit protects Su Ziji and later responds to the shrine’s light, becoming more animated and powerful.
• Ding Ruili and the two scholars: He manipulates them into helping report the incident, hoping official suspicion will fall on Su Ziji.
• Ding Ruili and the authorities: He tries to shape the coming investigation indirectly, but hesitates when he realizes that a direct accusation could expose his own involvement.
• Ding Ruili and Su Ziji: Their silent encounter near the end is hostile and tense; both recognize the other as an adversary, though neither openly acts.

Summary of “A Father’s Resolve”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• After the mysterious white light appears at the Water Shrine, the patrol inspector orders the shrine sealed and dismisses everyone to prevent panic and official complications.
• Su Ziji leaves the scene, relieved that the demons and ghosts have disappeared and that he disposed of the corpse in the dry well. He suspects Ding Ruili is plotting something, but does not pursue him because the shrine has attracted too much attention.
• Ding Ruili travels to Linhua County and visits the Tan family, claiming to know what happened to Tan An.
• He tells Tan Youshan that Tan An is dead, allegedly murdered by Su Ziji behind the Water Shrine. To support his story, Ding presents a letter in Tan An’s handwriting stating that Tan An planned to meet Su Ziji and would have been harmed if he failed to return.
• Ding encourages Tan Youshan to accuse Su Ziji during the Autumn Examination, when an academic inspector and provincial authorities will be present. He explains that filing a case then would make it difficult for officials to suppress the accusation.
• Tan Youshan agrees to pursue the matter if Su Ziji truly killed his son. Ding leaves satisfied, realizing that even an unsuccessful accusation could prevent Su Ziji from participating in the Imperial Examinations.
• Alone, Tan Youshan grieves over memories of his only son and resolves to use all his savings, influence, and lifelong connections to investigate the death and seek revenge.

2. Character Developments

• Su Ziji: Remains cautious and calculating. He recognizes Ding Ruili’s suspicious behavior and intends to investigate him, but prioritizes avoiding further attention from the authorities.
• Ding Ruili: Reveals himself as manipulative and increasingly ruthless. He fabricates or weaponizes evidence to direct Tan Youshan’s anger toward Su Ziji and undermine Su’s examination prospects.
• Tan Youshan: Changes from a devastated, nearly broken father into a determined avenger. Although he recognizes that Ding’s story may be suspicious, his grief and the possibility of losing his only son overcome his caution.
• Tan An: Though absent, he becomes central to the conflict through his supposed letter, his disappearance, and Tan Youshan’s memories of raising him.

3. Significant Themes

• Parental grief and vengeance: Tan Youshan’s love for his only son transforms his sorrow into an uncompromising determination to pursue whoever is responsible.
• Manipulation through grief: Ding exploits Tan Youshan’s vulnerability, using the alleged murder to provoke him into taking action against Su Ziji.
• Justice versus truth: The legal process is shown as vulnerable to status and political influence. Ding seeks to use the public setting of the Autumn Examination rather than ordinary legal channels.
• Power and reputation: Su Ziji’s position as a prefectural Examination Topper makes officials reluctant to prosecute him, while an accusation during the examination could damage both his reputation and future.
• The consequences of supernatural intrigue: The events at the Water Shrine continue to produce political and personal consequences even after the supernatural phenomenon has ended.

4. Character Interactions

• Su Ziji briefly interacts with the patrol inspector and the ox-cart driver, concealing his involvement in the Water Shrine incident.
• Ding Ruili confronts Tan Youshan with the news of Tan An’s alleged death, presents the supposed evidence, and deliberately stokes the old man’s hatred of Su Ziji.
• Tan Youshan initially challenges Ding’s accusation but ultimately accepts his proposed strategy and prepares to mobilize his connections against Su Ziji.