Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ming Qiuxue arrives at Lu Mi’s residence and finds Central Prison officers gathered outside with bank cards and words of encouragement.
• Believing Lu Mi has been financially ruined by Bai Jiu, the officers offer him their savings and urge him not to give up. Luo Wei openly accuses Bai Jiu of exploiting Lu Mi by eating his food, living in his home, sleeping with him, and causing him to borrow money and draw two years of salary in advance.
• The situation becomes a spectacle as the officers condemn Bai Jiu as a “scumbag” and even ask Ming Qiuxue to help defeat him.
• Yu Tu appears disguised as Bai Jiu, radiating murderous hostility. The officers immediately fall silent and move aside. He leaves with Ming Qiuxue without explaining himself.
• Lu Mi realizes Yu Tu is angry because he rejected Bai Jiu’s offer to support him financially. He regrets borrowing money instead of “living off” him and rushes after Yu Tu, determined to apologize and convince him that he wants to accept the arrangement.
• Yu Tu tells Lu Mi to wait outside Little Seven Castle and not follow him. Lu Mi obeys despite his frustration.
• Inside, Yu Tu meets Lan Su and discusses the death of Simutan and the instability that will follow Otto’s rebellion. He identifies territory he intends to claim and proposes an alliance: after conquering his own region, he will help Lan Su take another.
• As payment, Yu Tu asks only to take Lu Mi with him, describing him affectionately as a troublesome “little black cat.” He also requests a Q16 spaceship so he can depart immediately.
• After Yu Tu leaves, Ming Qiuxue asks Lan Su to approve three years of accumulated leave, expressing a desire to travel and see the universe.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: His normally stern composure collapses into panic and regret when he realizes Yu Tu is angry. His repeated insistence that he wants to “live off him” reveals both his dependence on Yu Tu and his growing willingness to acknowledge their intimate relationship.
• Yu Tu/Bai Jiu: Yu Tu remains cold, powerful, and strategically focused, but his request to take Lu Mi as his only “payment” reveals strong attachment. His “little black cat” description shows a possessive yet affectionate view of Lu Mi.
• Ming Qiuxue: He acts as a messenger and observer, helping connect the characters while quietly indulging in the chaos. His request for extended leave reveals a more personal, adventurous side beneath his usual seriousness.
• Lan Su: He demonstrates foresight regarding Yu Tu’s identity and past memory loss. He accepts Yu Tu’s alliance proposal pragmatically and understands the emotional significance of Yu Tu’s demand to take Lu Mi.
• Luo Wei and the prison officers: Their loyalty to Lu Mi is sincere, but their misunderstanding creates comic relief. They interpret his situation as exploitation and rally around him like protective colleagues.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and comic misunderstanding: The officers mistake Lu Mi’s relationship with Yu Tu for financial abuse, while Lu Mi’s attempts to explain himself only make the situation more absurd.
• Dependence and acceptance: Lu Mi struggles between pride and reliance. His decision to seek loans rather than accept Yu Tu’s support reflects his difficulty admitting that he wants—and may need—Yu Tu.
• Loyalty and found family: The prison officers’ willingness to contribute their own money shows their deep loyalty to Lu Mi, even when they misunderstand the circumstances.
• Power and political upheaval: Simutan’s death and Otto’s rebellion threaten to destabilize the Blue River System. Yu Tu and Lan Su prepare to exploit the coming chaos through territorial expansion and cooperation.
• Affection expressed indirectly: Yu Tu disguises emotional attachment as a practical demand, asking for Lu Mi instead of money. Their relationship is conveyed through teasing metaphors, pursuit, and attempts at reconciliation.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and the prison officers: The officers comfort Lu Mi and condemn Bai Jiu, while Lu Mi grows increasingly horrified by their assumptions.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu: Lu Mi chases after Yu Tu after realizing he has offended him, but Yu Tu keeps him waiting outside, maintaining emotional control.
• Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue: They exchange concise intelligence about Simutan, Yan Mei, and Lan Su, suggesting established trust and shared political objectives.
• Yu Tu and Lan Su: They negotiate an alliance based on territorial conquest. Yu Tu’s only personal condition is to take Lu Mi with him.
• Ming Qiuxue and Lan Su: After the strategic meeting, Ming Qiuxue asks for long-overdue leave, adding a quiet personal note to the chapter’s conclusion.

Chapter Summary: “Little Black Panther, Let’s Go Together”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ming Qiuxue learns of Simutan’s death and decides to travel to Blue Star to find Yu Tu, despite Lan Su warning him that Blue Star’s surveillance and Imperial security make entry extremely dangerous.
• Ming Qiuxue explains that Yan Mei would not want him to go, but he cannot abandon “the little fox” he raised and protected for thirteen years. Lan Su reluctantly grants him leave.
• Yu Tu arrives to leave Freedom Star. Lu Mi initially assumes Yu Tu intends to abandon him again and prepares to follow him, even taking out shackles in his distress.
• Yu Tu reveals that he wants Lu Mi to come with him. He affectionately teases and kisses Lu Mi, easing his fear. Lu Mi becomes emotional, admitting that he believed Yu Tu would leave him behind once more.
• Yu Tu promises that they will face every future path together, whether it leads through danger, hell, or sunlight. Lu Mi happily begins packing, taking clothes and the handmade cat teasers Yu Tu sent him during their separation.
• Lu Mi arranges temporary leave from his duties and entrusts Central Prison to Lin Luo and others. He and Yu Tu then depart aboard the Q16 spacecraft.
• Their friends gather to see them off, worrying that Lu Mi is being manipulated or acting impulsively. Lin Luo warns Yu Tu that the prison officers will hold him accountable if he mistreats Lu Mi.
• Before leaving, Yu Tu secretly reassures Lin Luo that Lu Mi will always be his “Little Black Panther,” hinting that Yu Tu’s identity is more significant or familiar than he has publicly admitted.
• Ming Qiuxue also prepares to depart, promising Lan Su that he will return alive and will not abandon the people of Freedom Star.

Character Developments

• Ming Qiuxue: His grief over Simutan’s death and concern for Yan Mei reveal how deeply he loves and protects those close to him. Despite the risks, he chooses responsibility and loyalty over self-preservation. He insists that his former weakness is gone, though his emotional vulnerability remains.
• Lu Mi: His fear of abandonment resurfaces when he thinks Yu Tu is leaving without him. However, he quickly shifts from an intimidating, angry figure to an openly emotional and affectionate partner. His decision to leave his duties and travel with Yu Tu demonstrates his commitment.
• Yu Tu: He shows greater emotional responsibility by refusing to abandon Lu Mi again. His promise to share both hardship and happiness marks a significant strengthening of their relationship. His secret reassurance to Lin Luo also suggests that he may be concealing his true identity.
• Lan Su: Though worried about both Ming Qiuxue and the others, he supports their decisions by granting leave and trusting them to return.
• Lin Luo: He remains fiercely loyal to Lu Mi and suspicious of Yu Tu, but Yu Tu’s private words deeply affect him and suggest that he recognizes something important about Yu Tu.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and chosen family: Characters repeatedly risk their safety for those they consider family, including Ming Qiuxue’s devotion to Yu Tu and Yu Tu’s promise to remain with Lu Mi.
• Fear of abandonment and emotional healing: Lu Mi’s past abandonment continues to shape his reactions, but Yu Tu’s promise offers him reassurance and the possibility of healing.
• Facing danger together: The chapter emphasizes that love means sharing both “hell and sunlight,” rather than protecting someone by leaving them behind.
• Identity and secrecy: Yu Tu’s hidden connection to Lin Luo and his request for secrecy suggest unresolved mysteries about his past and true identity.
• Strength and vulnerability: Characters who appear powerful or commanding—Ming Qiuxue, Lu Mi, and Yu Tu—are also shown grieving, crying, fearing loss, and needing emotional support.

Important Character Interactions

• Ming Qiuxue and Lan Su: Lan Su warns Ming Qiuxue against going to Blue Star, while Ming Qiuxue insists that he cannot abandon Yu Tu. Lan Su ultimately supports him by approving his leave.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi: Their reunion transforms Lu Mi’s fear and anger into relief and affection. Yu Tu comforts him, promises not to leave him again, and invites him to share the journey.
• Yu Tu and Lin Luo: Lin Luo threatens Yu Tu on Lu Mi’s behalf, but Yu Tu privately assures him that Lu Mi will always remain his “Little Black Panther,” creating an emotional and mysterious moment.
• Lan Su and Cang Qi: Lan Su encourages Cang Qi to trust his judgment, and Cang Qi publicly supports Lu Mi’s departure.
• Ming Qiuxue and the Freedom Star residents: Ming Qiuxue promises that he will return alive and will not abandon the people who depend on him, reinforcing his role as their commander.

Chapter Summary: “Top CP Shipper”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi travels through space aboard Q16 with Yu Tu, enjoying a private trip together.
• Black Shadow, the powerful Black Panther Mecha, awakens and complains that Lu Mi left it behind. Lu Mi explains that Black Shadow must remain on Freedom Star as its final defense and then puts it back into hibernation.
• Yu Tu contacts Yun Yuan, the Ninth Army’s deputy commander, to announce that Simutan is dead and that he is returning. He instructs her to begin preparations, particularly concerning Tamu Planet.
• Yun Yuan reports the Ninth Army’s recent accomplishments, including seven missions and gains worth 262 million Blue Star Credits. Lu Mi distracts Yu Tu during the call, teasing and seducing him until Yu Tu ends the conversation.
• Lu Mi becomes jealous of Yun Yuan, who is known as the Wild Army’s number one beauty. Yu Tu reassures him that Lu Mi is special because only Lu Mi can treat him so intimately.
• Yu Tu explains Yun Yuan’s background: she was originally Qi Yuan, a descendant of Qi An, and survived an Imperial Army purge after Lan Xiao attempted to eliminate Qi An’s family. After a second awakening, she advanced to a Diamond-Rank Falcon and joined the Ninth Army.
• The chapter ends with Yu Tu revealing that Yun Yuan is an enthusiastic supporter of his relationship with Lu Mi—their “top CP shipper”—which completely dispels Lu Mi’s jealousy.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi remains playful, possessive, and mischievous, but also shows responsibility by ensuring Black Shadow remains behind to protect Freedom Star. His jealousy reveals how deeply attached he is to Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu is shown in his serious role as Commander-in-Chief, managing military affairs and directing the Ninth Army. At the same time, he becomes shy and flustered under Lu Mi’s teasing, revealing a softer private side.
• Black Shadow continues to act like an emotionally expressive, spoiled companion, but accepts its duty as Freedom Star’s protector.
• Yun Yuan is established as a highly capable and wealthy military leader with a tragic past, strong loyalty to Yu Tu, and an amusing enthusiasm for Lu Mi and Yu Tu as a couple.

Significant Themes

• Love and possessiveness: Lu Mi’s jealousy and Yu Tu’s reassurance emphasize the intensity and exclusivity of their relationship.
• Public duty versus private intimacy: Yu Tu shifts between commanding a major military force and being embarrassed and affectionate with Lu Mi in private.
• Loyalty and protection: Black Shadow protects Freedom Star, while Yu Tu honors Qi An’s descendants and saves Yun Yuan from persecution.
• Healing and survival: Yun Yuan’s survival, second awakening, and rise to power demonstrate resilience after political betrayal and violence.
• Humor in romance: The chapter uses teasing, jealousy, and Yun Yuan’s role as an enthusiastic “shipper” to lighten the military and political storyline.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi humorously argues with Black Shadow before reaffirming its importance as Freedom Star’s guardian.
• Lu Mi embraces and kisses Yu Tu while Yu Tu works, then deliberately distracts him during his military call.
• Lu Mi becomes jealous of Yun Yuan, but Yu Tu comforts him by declaring that Lu Mi is uniquely important to him.
• Yu Tu playfully uses white vines to entertain Lu Mi, reversing their usual dynamic and helping ease his jealousy.
• Yu Tu’s embarrassed confession that Yun Yuan constantly asks about and imagines their relationship turns Lu Mi’s irritation into pride and amusement.

Chapter Summary: “He Deserves to Be Admired”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Tu and Lu Mi arrive on Black Cat Planet aboard Q16, where they are met by Yun Yuan and the Ninth Army.
• The Ninth Army members recognize Lu Mi as the former adversary from Freedom Star and initially prepare to confront him. Yu Tu immediately declares that Lu Mi represents Freedom Star and that the Freedom Army is now an allied force, preventing a conflict.
• Yu Tu orders the Ninth Army to prepare for immediate departure following Simutan’s death. He reviews the military’s weapons, warships, spacecraft, personnel, and absent soldiers, expanding the planned fleet and mobilizing additional troops.
• Lu Mi tours the Ninth Army’s heavily fortified and lavishly equipped base. He learns that Black Cat Planet’s military strength and resources are centered around the Ninth Army, with Yu Tu effectively serving as the planet’s unquestioned leader.
• Yun Yuan explains the origin of Black Cat Planet’s name: Yu Tu created it as an enormous “cat nest” after losing his “little black cat”—Lu Mi.
• In private, Yun Yuan reveals Yu Tu’s hidden suffering and devotion. She recounts how Yu Tu was nearly torn apart by a star beast, endured prolonged pain and infection, and cried out for Lu Mi while unconscious.
• Yun Yuan warns Lu Mi that Yu Tu will not speak openly about these feelings, but that his entire army is fiercely loyal to him. She declares herself Yu Tu’s devoted follower rather than merely a supporter of Lu Mi and threatens Lu Mi if he ever hurts him.

2. Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Demonstrates his authority, composure, strategic competence, and responsibility as Commander-in-Chief. Despite his intimidating public image, Yun Yuan reveals that he is emotionally vulnerable, lonely, and deeply attached to Lu Mi. His decisions—including the Ninth Army’s name, flag, and Black Cat Planet—are shown to be shaped by his longing for Lu Mi.
• Lu Mi: Initially remains cold and guarded, but he is increasingly affected by seeing the scale of Yu Tu’s accomplishments and learning how much Yu Tu suffered in his absence. His admiration, regret, and emotional turmoil deepen as he realizes that Yu Tu built an entire world around finding him.
• Yun Yuan: Acts as both Yu Tu’s trusted subordinate and outspoken protector. She provides Lu Mi with the truth Yu Tu refuses to share and makes clear that her loyalty is to Yu Tu above all else.
• The Ninth Army: Their hostility toward Lu Mi quickly changes into formal acceptance once Yu Tu names him an ally. Their fierce loyalty highlights Yu Tu’s influence and the army’s willingness to defend him.

3. Significant Themes

• Devotion expressed through action: Yu Tu’s love is embedded in the Ninth Army’s name, flag, planet, and even its cat-themed environment rather than openly spoken.
• The contrast between public strength and private vulnerability: Yu Tu appears ruthless and invincible as a commander, yet privately suffers loneliness, pain, and longing.
• Admiration and loyalty: Yun Yuan argues that Yu Tu deserves respect not only as a powerful leader but as someone who endured hardship while protecting and supporting an entire planet.
• Reconciliation and emotional revelation: Lu Mi begins to understand the depth of Yu Tu’s feelings and the cost of their separation.
• Found family and collective loyalty: The Ninth Army functions as Yu Tu’s chosen family, united by gratitude and devotion to their commander.

4. Character Interactions

• Yu Tu publicly shields Lu Mi from the Ninth Army’s anger, establishing him as an ally and demanding that he be treated respectfully.
• Yun Yuan teases Lu Mi about Black Cat Planet and Yu Tu’s “lost cat,” using humor to expose the personal meaning behind the planet.
• During their private conversation, Yun Yuan confronts Lu Mi with Yu Tu’s history of suffering and explains how often he spoke about Lu Mi.
• She emphasizes that Yu Tu’s affection has shaped nearly everything he built and warns Lu Mi that the Ninth Army will retaliate if he causes Yu Tu further pain.

Chapter Summary: “Blue River System Exploded”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The entire Ninth Army prepares to depart for a major military operation. Yu Tu and Lu Mi leave Black Cat Planet aboard the Q16 spacecraft.
• The children of Black Cat Planet gather to bid farewell to Yu Tu. Yu Tu reassures them that he has an important mission and promises to return for a longer stay. He also hints that, upon his return, Lu Mi’s identity and relationship with him can be made public.
• Lu Mi, initially pushed aside by the children, transforms into his Diamond-Grade Black Panther form. He jokingly bullies a child for candy, then returns to Yu Tu and playfully presents the candy to him.
• On the spacecraft, Lu Mi and Yu Tu share an intimate kiss using the candy. Lu Mi expresses gratitude to Yu Tu for giving him both love and a second home. He reveals that his past regret over their separation has disappeared because he now knows Yu Tu loves him.
• The Blue River System erupts into open rebellion. Otto declares Tamu Planet and nearby starfields independent from Lan Xiao’s rule. Dukes Neiyouli and Zhou Lü, followed by four marquises, join the rebellion within a single day.
• Yu Tu is pleased that the unrest he has encouraged over the past three years has finally ignited. He immediately organizes the Ninth Army’s assault, assigning Yun Yuan, Chen Jun, and Wang Mo to block escape routes while ordering the Black Shark Battleship to attack Tamu Planet directly.
• On Blue Star, Lan Xiao is overwhelmed by the simultaneous rebellions and struggles to decide where to send the Imperial Army first.
• Meanwhile, Elisa arrives at Cloud Palace with Imperial soldiers, demanding that Yan Mei be killed.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Demonstrates warmth and patience with the children of Black Cat Planet while also revealing himself as a highly capable military strategist. His long-term political manipulation of the Blue River System finally bears fruit.
• Lu Mi: Becomes more openly affectionate and playful toward Yu Tu. His gratitude and emotional security show that he has moved beyond his former loneliness and regret. He now views himself as having two homes: Yu Tu’s side and Black Cat Planet.
• Yun Yuan, Chen Jun, and Wang Mo: Respond confidently to Yu Tu’s orders, reflecting their loyalty and readiness for battle.
• Lan Xiao: Appears increasingly pressured and helpless as multiple territories rebel simultaneously. His authority is visibly weakening.
• Elisa: Shows intense hostility toward Yan Mei and takes direct military action against her.

Significant Themes

• Love as belonging and healing: Lu Mi’s relationship with Yu Tu gives him a sense of home and resolves his long-standing regrets.
• Family and community: The children’s affection for Yu Tu and their acceptance of Lu Mi suggest that Black Cat Planet has become a genuine emotional home for both men.
• Political rebellion and long-term strategy: Yu Tu’s patient efforts to destabilize the Blue River Empire culminate in widespread rebellion.
• Public and private identities: The chapter contrasts Yu Tu and Lu Mi’s playful intimacy in private with their formal roles as commander and military officer.
• Power and instability: The rapid spread of rebellion exposes the fragility of Lan Xiao’s rule and the difficulty of suppressing multiple uprisings at once.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu affectionately reassures the children and calls Lu Mi his “little black cat,” provoking Lu Mi’s embarrassed insistence that he is a black panther.
• Lu Mi teases and intimidates the children but ultimately receives their reluctant acceptance.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi share a romantic moment in which Lu Mi feeds Yu Tu candy through a kiss and openly thanks him for loving him.
• Yu Tu gives precise battlefield instructions to Yun Yuan, Chen Jun, and Wang Mo, who enthusiastically accept their assignments.
• Black Shark’s flirtatious, overdramatic personality causes awkward amusement among Yu Tu, Lu Mi, and the soldiers.
• Lan Xiao and his ministers reveal the practical crisis caused by the rebellions, while Elisa’s confrontation with Yan Mei sets up further conflict.

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Key Events

• At Cloud Palace, Queen Mother Elisa confronts Lan Xiao’s forces, determined to kill Yan Mei. Yan Mei deliberately provokes her by reminding her that she failed to kill him thirteen years earlier and that Lan Xiao still protects him.
• Elisa orders her Imperial Army to attack, triggering a battle at the palace entrance. Yan Mei uses the chaos to execute an escape plan.
• Wang Ping, a loyal guard whom Yan Mei once saved, sacrifices his identity—and potentially his life—to help him. Using Phantom Vision Devices, Yan Mei and Wang Ping disguise themselves as each other. Yan Mei escapes the palace while Wang Ping remains behind as a decoy.
• News soon spreads that Cloud Palace has burned down and Yan Mei has died. In reality, Yan Mei hides inside a courier ship’s cargo container and successfully fakes his death.
• Ming Qiuxue receives the false report while traveling toward Blue Star to rescue Yan Mei. Overcome with shock and grief, he coughs blood and beastifies. He fights through the Imperial Army and demands that Lan Xiao exchange Yan Mei for five hundred Imperial soldiers.
• On Tamu Planet, Yu Tu and the Ninth Army arrive aboard the Black Shark Battleship. The battleship’s overconfident AI provokes Tamu’s forces before Yu Tu shuts it down.
• Rather than immediately fighting, Yu Tu uses the Ninth Army’s comical pink cat-paw flags to signal surrender, then challenges Tamu’s commander, Xu Kuang, to defeat Lu Mi. In exchange, Yu Tu promises to withdraw his forces.
• Yu Tu encourages Lu Mi to fight independently, telling him to win the first victory and prove that he can stand beside Yu Tu rather than remain behind him.

Character Developments

• Yan Mei shows considerable resourcefulness and theatrical skill. Though frightened by the attack, he uses his performance and the palace’s confusion to escape. His emotional response to Wang Ping’s sacrifice reveals his capacity for gratitude and loyalty.
• Wang Ping demonstrates profound devotion to Yan Mei. Having once been rescued by him, he willingly risks his life to repay that kindness, emphasizing his selflessness and loyalty.
• Elisa becomes increasingly unstable and enraged. Her inability to control her emotions allows Yan Mei to manipulate her into creating the exact distraction he needs.
• Ming Qiuxue reveals how deeply Yan Mei affects him. The false report of Yan Mei’s death causes him physical and emotional collapse, but his grief immediately transforms into fierce determination to rescue him.
• Yu Tu demonstrates strategic confidence and emotional insight. He understands that Lu Mi’s true desire is not merely protection or support, but recognition as an equal.
• Lu Mi begins moving from dependence toward independence. Although he jokes about “living off someone else,” Yu Tu’s challenge forces him to confront his wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and repayment: Wang Ping repays Yan Mei’s past kindness through an ultimate act of sacrifice.
• Love and emotional vulnerability: Ming Qiuxue’s reaction shows that Yan Mei is both his greatest weakness and the person he is most determined to protect.
• Deception and survival: Yan Mei’s escape depends on disguise, performance, and exploiting confusion rather than brute force.
• Equality and recognition: Yu Tu’s words to Lu Mi emphasize the importance of being treated as an equal partner instead of merely a protected subordinate.
• Humor amid conflict: The pink cat-paw flags and Black Shark’s absurd threats contrast with the surrounding military crisis, giving the chapter a playful tone despite its danger.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Mei and Elisa: Yan Mei taunts Elisa about her past failure and her dependence on Lan Xiao, provoking her into launching an attack.
• Yan Mei and Wang Ping: Their quiet exchange reveals mutual gratitude and loyalty. Wang Ping’s sacrifice enables Yan Mei’s escape.
• Ming Qiuxue and Yan Mei: Though separated, their relationship drives Ming Qiuxue’s actions. Yan Mei’s supposed death causes him intense pain and pushes him into battle.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi: Yu Tu recognizes Lu Mi’s desire for equality and urges him to prove his strength publicly. His command—“Go, Little Black Panther”—marks a significant moment in Lu Mi’s growth.
• Yu Tu and Xu Kuang: Yu Tu avoids an immediate confrontation by proposing that Xu Kuang fight Lu Mi instead, turning the political and military standoff into a test of Lu Mi’s capability.

Chapter Summary: “Instant Kill!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi, overwhelmed by his devotion to Yu Tu, accepts Yu Tu’s command to challenge Xu Kuang, Tamu Planet’s sole Diamond-grade Energy Master.
• Lu Mi transforms into his Diamond-grade Black Panther form and confronts Xu Kuang, whose awakened power is the Diamond-grade Lynx.
• Their battle becomes a contest of speed. Xu Kuang attacks with his chained Explosive Claws, attempting to strike Lu Mi from behind.
• Lu Mi effortlessly catches and crushes one of the claws, then challenges Xu Kuang to defeat him through speed alone.
• Moving faster than Xu Kuang can react, Lu Mi uses the chains of Xu Kuang’s own weapon to bind him completely. He defeats the powerful lynx almost instantly.
• Lu Mi theatrically salutes Yu Tu and asks for a reward, prompting Yu Tu to respond shyly but affectionately.
• Yu Tu orders Xu Kuang to arrange a meeting with Otto, Tamu Planet’s ruler or commander.
• Otto agrees to meet Yu Tu only if Yu Tu comes alone. The Ninth Army protests, fearing a trap, but Yu Tu explains that open war would damage resources and territory they hope to control later.
• Yu Tu insists on bringing Lu Mi with him. Lu Mi jokingly pretends to be timid and dependent on Yu Tu, despite having just defeated Xu Kuang.
• Otto ultimately accepts the condition, and the chapter ends as Xu Kuang leads Yu Tu and Lu Mi to the meeting.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Demonstrates overwhelming speed, confidence, and combat ability by defeating Xu Kuang using his own weapon. His devotion to Yu Tu is intense and openly romantic, while his smug teasing shows growing comfort with the Ninth Army.
• Yu Tu: Displays complete trust in Lu Mi’s strength and remains calm throughout the fight. He balances personal affection with strategic judgment, refusing to start a war that could damage future gains. His protective insistence on accompanying Lu Mi to the meeting reveals their mutual attachment.
• Xu Kuang: Begins as a formidable and cautious opponent but is quickly humbled by Lu Mi’s superior speed. He recognizes that Tamu Planet cannot risk a war with the Ninth Army and reluctantly cooperates.
• The Ninth Army: Initially respects Lu Mi largely because of his relationship with Yu Tu, but after witnessing his victory, they begin admiring him for his own strength and celebrate him as a genuine hero.
• Otto: Remains offstage but establishes control through the demand that Yu Tu meet him alone. His eventual compromise suggests that he is willing to negotiate despite the tension.

Significant Themes

• Devotion and romantic loyalty: Lu Mi’s love for Yu Tu motivates his fierce performance, while Yu Tu’s concern and protectiveness show that the affection is mutual.
• Power and status: Lu Mi’s victory proves that rank alone does not determine strength; the gap between Diamond-grade fighters can be enormous.
• Strategic restraint: Yu Tu rejects immediate warfare, prioritizing long-term control of Tamu Planet and preservation of resources.
• Respect earned through ability: The Ninth Army’s attitude toward Lu Mi changes from indirect respect through Yu Tu to genuine admiration after witnessing his victory.
• Humor amid political tension: Lu Mi’s shameless flirting and feigned timidity contrast with the serious military and diplomatic stakes.

Important Character Interactions

• Yu Tu commands Lu Mi before the duel, and Lu Mi responds with a formal salute that mixes military obedience with romantic enthusiasm.
• Lu Mi and Xu Kuang exchange challenges, with Lu Mi deliberately provoking Xu Kuang by dismissing his speed and defeating him with his own weapon.
• After the battle, Lu Mi seeks Yu Tu’s approval and a personal reward, while Yu Tu responds with embarrassed affection.
• The Ninth Army celebrates Lu Mi and jokes about his relationship with Yu Tu.
• Yu Tu takes Lu Mi’s hand and refuses to enter Otto’s meeting alone, reinforcing their partnership.
• Lu Mi jokingly claims he is too timid to go without Yu Tu, further teasing both Xu Kuang and the surrounding soldiers.

Key plot points and events

• Yu Tu and Lu Mi enter Tamu Planet’s palace, where Otto has surrounded them with Imperial Army soldiers. Yu Tu refuses to negotiate, giving Otto twenty minutes to surrender or die.
• Elsewhere, Ninth Army forces intercept Tamu’s cargo routes. Yun Yuan destroys incoming energy cannons and boards an escort ship, while Chen Jun and Wang Mo persuade another convoy to surrender peacefully.
• With food imports cut off, Otto realizes Tamu’s dependence on imported grain has become a weakness. Yu Tu explains that he anticipated this: he bought Tamu’s Psionic Crystal Ore at a high price, then arranged matters so that Otto’s pursuit of profit left the planet without agricultural production.
• Otto rejects surrender and threatens war. When the countdown expires, Yu Tu reveals his identity as the feared First Commander, Yu Tu. His purple vines seize Otto, and the soldiers recognize Yu Tu’s power and stand aside.
• Yu Tu takes the throne and gives Otto the choice again. Otto immediately surrenders, hoping to survive long enough to see Lan Xiao’s downfall.

Character developments

• Yu Tu remains composed and strategic, using economic pressure and control of supply routes to force surrender without a battle. His fearsome reputation proves more decisive than violence.
• Lu Mi supports Yu Tu loyally and protectively. His bluntly affectionate remark briefly flusters Yu Tu, and he reacts jealously when Otto jokes about Yu Tu’s wife.
• Otto shifts from confident ruler to furious opponent, then submits once Yu Tu’s identity and strength become clear. His desire to see Lan Xiao die gives him a reason to choose survival.
• Yun Yuan displays exceptional speed and marksmanship, alongside an intense hatred of the Imperial Army.
• Chen Jun and Wang Mo take a more restrained approach, offering surrender rather than attacking.

Significant themes

• Victory without combat: Planning, economic leverage, and supply disruption can defeat an enemy before a battle begins.
• Reputation and power: Yu Tu’s past actions terrify Otto’s troops more effectively than a direct fight.
• Loyalty and affection: Lu Mi’s devotion to Yu Tu surfaces through both his words and protective behavior.
• The cost of greed: Otto’s focus on ore profits undermines Tamu’s food security and leaves it vulnerable.

Character interactions

• Yu Tu dismisses Otto’s attempted negotiation and sets an ultimatum; Otto later accuses him of manipulating events for years.
• Lu Mi helps explain Yu Tu’s strategy and responds possessively when Otto makes a personal joke about Yu Tu.
• Yun Yuan confronts the escort crews with overwhelming force, while Chen Jun and Wang Mo give their convoy a peaceful route to surrender.
• Once Yu Tu reveals himself, Otto and the Imperial Army’s fear transforms the palace standoff into an immediate surrender.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting Lord Yu Tu!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ninth Army arrives at Tamu Planet with its warships and spacecraft, landing outside the central palace under the command of Yun Yuan.
• Inside the palace, Yu Tu is anxious about revealing his true identity and facing the Ninth Army as himself rather than as Commander Bai Jiu. Lu Mi reassures him with affection and praise, reminding him that the army follows his character and leadership, not merely his name.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu share an intimate kiss before opening the palace doors, despite Otto’s presence and the soldiers watching.
• Yun Yuan kneels and formally greets Yu Tu as “Lord Yu Tu.” The Ninth Army follows her lead, pledging their loyalty to him.
• Yu Tu is deeply moved and relieved when the army accepts him without requiring an explanation. His emotional reaction is represented by the appearance of multiple “Bean Sprouts,” a recurring sign of his excitement or embarrassment.
• Lu Mi salutes Yu Tu and declares that “sunlight will always favor” him, reinforcing the image of Yu Tu as the Ninth Army’s guiding light.
• Yu Tu prepares to leave Tamu Planet, assigning Yun Yuan responsibility for its future administration.
• He orders that Otto be allowed to live and manage the planet, emphasizing his desire to protect civilians and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
• Yu Tu instructs Yun Yuan to absorb the Imperial Army into the Ninth Army and continue their broader plans, including restoring Tamu Planet’s agriculture.
• Before departing, Yu Tu reveals that he wants Yun Yuan to build a home on Tamu Planet and relocate the people of Black Cat Planet there. He also imagines Black Cat Planet eventually becoming a private home for himself and Lu Mi.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi leave aboard Q16, ending the chapter with mutual affection and an implied romantic reward.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: Overcomes his fear that the Ninth Army will reject him after learning his true identity. He realizes that their loyalty is directed toward his soul, leadership, and ideals rather than his public name. He also demonstrates compassion and practical leadership by sparing Otto, protecting Tamu Planet’s civilians, and planning for agricultural recovery.
• Lu Mi: Continues to act as Yu Tu’s emotional anchor and devoted partner. He uses humor, praise, physical affection, and confidence to calm Yu Tu’s anxiety. His loyalty is absolute, and he openly celebrates Yu Tu’s identity as both commander and beloved.
• Yun Yuan: Shows unwavering loyalty by being the first to kneel and publicly acknowledge Yu Tu. She also proves herself capable of taking responsibility for Tamu Planet and carrying out Yu Tu’s political and military plans.
• Otto: Although previously intimidated and forced into surrender, he is spared because Yu Tu recognizes his respectable reputation and usefulness as a planetary administrator. His silent reaction to Yu Tu and Lu Mi’s intimacy provides comic relief.
• The Ninth Army: Transforms from a famously disorderly force into a disciplined, reverent group when confronted with Yu Tu’s true identity, showing the depth of their devotion.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty beyond identity: The Ninth Army’s acceptance shows that true allegiance is based on Yu Tu’s character and actions rather than whether he is called Bai Jiu or Yu Tu.
• Leadership and belonging: Yu Tu’s reunion with the army confirms that he has a home and a community that recognizes him completely.
• Light and hope: The recurring imagery of sunlight and Yu Tu as the army’s “sun” contrasts with his three years of concealment and suggests that his influence cannot be permanently hidden.
• Compassionate power: Yu Tu combines overwhelming military authority with restraint, choosing to preserve civilian life and spare Otto rather than rule through destruction.
• Home and shared future: Plans to rebuild Tamu Planet and relocate the people of Black Cat Planet reflect Yu Tu and Lu Mi’s desire to create stable homes rather than merely win battles.
• Romantic devotion: The chapter repeatedly connects personal intimacy with political loyalty, presenting Lu Mi’s love as a source of Yu Tu’s confidence and strength.

Important Character Interactions

• Yu Tu and Lu Mi: Their affectionate teasing, kissing, and emotional reassurance form the chapter’s central relationship. Lu Mi helps Yu Tu face the army, while Yu Tu responds by promising a future home together.
• Yu Tu and Yun Yuan: Yun Yuan publicly affirms Yu Tu’s legitimacy, and Yu Tu entrusts her with major administrative and military responsibilities.
• Yu Tu and the Ninth Army: Their formal greeting becomes a symbolic reunion and confirmation of mutual loyalty.
• Yu Tu and Otto: Although Otto has been defeated and intimidated, Yu Tu chooses to preserve his life and use his reputation for the benefit of Tamu Planet, revealing a pragmatic but merciful relationship.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• While traveling aboard Q16, Lu Mi receives an urgent call from Lan Su: Ming Qiuxue has disappeared after sending a distress signal from the abandoned planet Z7302.
• Lu Mi immediately changes course to rescue him. Yu Tu, who has recently taken Tamu Planet without casualties, uses the crisis to announce that Tamu has changed hands, further challenging Emperor Lan Xiao.
• Lan Xiao’s forces had exchanged Yan Mei’s supposedly burned corpse for Ming Qiuxue, then attempted to kill Ming Qiuxue afterward. Ming escapes, but Lan Xiao’s pursuit is interrupted when news arrives that Yu Tu has seized Tamu Planet.
• Facing pressure from his ministers and the growing threat of Yu Tu, Lan Xiao reluctantly orders the Imperial Army to withdraw from the search.
• Seven days later, Lu Mi and Yu Tu return to Freedom Star with Ming Qiuxue. Ming carries an urn containing what he believes is Yan Mei’s remains.
• Ming buries the urn and creates a grave for Yan Mei, revealing that it contains only one of Yan Mei’s ribs. He mourns Yan Mei as the person who protected him for thirteen years.
• Meanwhile, a wealthy “divorcee” named Lady Lolita arrives on Freedom Star with bodyguards and enormous financial resources, claiming she intends to invest in construction. After reaching the hotel, she reveals herself to be Yan Mei in disguise. She complains about her artificial metal breast and orders her companion Jieke to call her “Madam,” insisting that “Chief Yan Mei” is dead.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi remains deeply devoted to Yu Tu but immediately prioritizes duty when Ming Qiuxue is endangered. Despite being exhausted and hoarse from his intimate time with Yu Tu, he takes responsibility for the rescue.
• Yu Tu grows more openly aggressive and politically strategic. By announcing Tamu Planet’s change of ownership, he forces Lan Xiao to recognize him as a major military and political threat.
• Ming Qiuxue returns physically alive but emotionally devastated. He appears pale and hollow, grieving so intensely that he considers himself spiritually dead after losing Yan Mei.
• Lan Xiao is shown to be obsessive and politically cornered. His fixation on recovering Yan Mei’s body blinds him to rebellions and larger threats, while Yu Tu’s victory forces him into a humiliating retreat.
• Yan Mei is revealed to have survived and to be operating under a disguise. Her transformation into “Lady Lolita” suggests a new identity and likely an effort to remain hidden while entering Freedom Star’s political and economic sphere.
• Lan Su, Cang Qi, and the others at Little Seven Castle show continued concern for Lu Mi and emotional investment in Ming Qiuxue’s survival.

Significant Themes

• Grief and sacrifice: Ming’s burial ritual emphasizes the emotional cost of Yan Mei’s supposed death and the sacrifices made to protect others.
• False death and reinvention: Yan Mei’s survival contrasts sharply with Ming’s belief that she is dead, introducing dramatic irony and the possibility of a new chapter in her life.
• Political power and rebellion: Yu Tu’s takeover of Tamu Planet shifts the balance of power and forces Lan Xiao to abandon his pursuit of Ming.
• Love expressed through protection: Yan Mei’s thirteen years of protecting Ming and Yu Tu’s rescue of Ming demonstrate love through sacrifice and action.
• Public identity versus hidden identity: Yu Tu is finally recognized openly, while Yan Mei conceals herself behind the persona of a wealthy investor.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Yu Tu share an intimate but interrupted moment before Lu Mi responds to the emergency. Their relationship combines affection, teasing, and mutual dependence.
• Lu Mi reassures Lan Su that he will rescue Ming Qiuxue, while Yu Tu supports the mission and uses it to pressure Lan Xiao.
• Lan Xiao’s ministers urge him to withdraw his troops because Yu Tu’s conquest of Tamu has become a more immediate danger; Lan Xiao reluctantly complies.
• On Freedom Star, Yu Tu and Lu Mi quietly allow Ming to go ahead of them, recognizing the depth of his grief.
• Ming’s farewell to Yan Mei at the grave is deeply emotional, while the audience learns that Yan Mei is secretly alive and already establishing herself on Freedom Star as “Lady Lolita.”

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After taking three days off, Yu Tu visits Little Seven Castle with Lu Mi to explain his next strategic move to Lan Su and Cang Qi.
• Yu Tu identifies Freedom Star as his next target and outlines the surrounding political situation:
  • The Cangmu Star Sector is ruled by the greedy and oppressive Duke Neiyouli.
  • Neiyouli has repeatedly increased taxes and is likely to rebel.
  • His rebellion would create disorder not only in his own territory but also near the Nomadic Scattered Star Cluster and the Blue River System’s border.
• Yu Tu reveals that Neiyouli’s second son, Liman, purchased a fake or questionable “treasure map” and plans to search for treasure in the nomadic clans’ territory. Such an intrusion would provoke the clans into attacking Neiyouli.
• Yu Tu intends to let Neiyouli and the nomadic clans exhaust one another, then take advantage of the conflict—an example of benefiting from a struggle between two opposing sides.
• After presenting the plan, Yu Tu leaves with Lu Mi, eager to enjoy their honeymoon.
• Lu Mi nevertheless resumes his responsibilities the next day because Freedom Star still needs support, especially with Ming Qiuxue temporarily unavailable.
• Lu Mi is assigned to receive Madam Lolita, a politically important potential investor whose support may influence Freedom Star’s future development.
• Zhang Jiao warns Lu Mi to appear more welcoming, but Lu Mi responds in his usual intimidating manner, threatening to break Madam Lolita’s legs if she tries to flee.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu demonstrates strategic intelligence and political sophistication. He carefully exploits existing tensions rather than engaging in direct conflict.
• Lu Mi balances his devotion to Yu Tu with his sense of duty. Although he wants to spend their honeymoon together, he returns to work and takes responsibility for Freedom Star’s development.
• Lan Su continues to act as a supportive and protective leader. He praises Yu Tu’s plan and reassures Cang Qi that he will remain safe.
• Cang Qi provides comic relief through his admiration of Yu Tu’s political maneuvering and his fear of court politics.
• Ming Qiuxue’s absence and lack of energy create a temporary leadership gap that Lu Mi helps fill.
• Zhang Jiao functions as a practical intermediary, understanding the importance of diplomacy while struggling to make Lu Mi behave more approachable.

Significant Themes

• Political strategy and indirect warfare: Yu Tu uses regional tensions to create an opportunity for expansion without directly starting a war.
• The consequences of greed and oppression: Neiyouli’s excessive taxation and ambition make rebellion and conflict more likely.
• Power vacuums and opportunism: Disorder in neighboring regions allows Yu Tu and Freedom Star to advance their interests.
• Duty versus personal desire: Lu Mi wants private time with Yu Tu but chooses to support Freedom Star when needed.
• Humor amid political tension: Romantic affection, teasing, and Lu Mi’s exaggerated threats lighten the otherwise serious discussion of rebellion and war.
• Protection and possessiveness: Lan Su’s concern for Cang Qi and Lu Mi’s intimidating attitude toward Madam Lolita both reflect strong protective instincts.

Character Interactions

• Yu Tu and Lan Su: Yu Tu presents his plan, while Lan Su quickly understands the geopolitical implications and praises his foresight.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi: Their relationship is affectionate and intimate; Yu Tu eagerly prioritizes time together, while Lu Mi supports him but still returns to work.
• Lan Su and Cang Qi: Cang Qi jokes about political survival, prompting Lan Su to lightly punish him and reassure him of his safety.
• Lu Mi and Zhang Jiao: Zhang Jiao urges Lu Mi to act more diplomatically toward Madam Lolita, but Lu Mi responds with cold confidence and an ominous threat.

Chapter Summary: “Fuck, He Was After His Brother!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Mei, disguised as the alluring and wealthy “Lady Lolita,” arrives twenty minutes late at Freedom Star with Jieke and four bodyguards.
• He meets Zhang Jiao and Lu Mi, Freedom Star’s Chief Warden. Lu Mi is openly hostile because he dislikes being kept waiting.
• Yan Mei teasingly suggests that Lu Mi might send him to “Commander Ming’s bed,” causing Lu Mi to realize—incorrectly—that Yan Mei is pursuing his brother, Ming Qiuxue.
• Zhang Jiao leads Yan Mei through Freedom Star’s newly developed construction site. The chapter explains that the city’s finances are strained despite income from underwater crystal mines, Cang Qi’s highly valuable mechanical products, and occasional military operations.
• Yan Mei bribes Lu Mi with promises to fund several buildings on Freedom Star in exchange for stories about his past as warden of Calamity Planet’s First Prison.
• Lu Mi responds with a gruesome, highly detailed account of prisoner executions. Zhang Jiao faints from the descriptions and is removed from the site.
• Alone with Lu Mi, Yan Mei asks about Lu Mi’s past conflicts with Ming Qiuxue, including whether they ever fought and who was stronger.
• Lu Mi misinterprets Yan Mei’s questions as evidence that he is interested in both Ming Qiuxue and himself, accusing him of having an excessive appetite and a death wish.

Character Developments

• Yan Mei: Maintains his seductive disguise and uses charm, wealth, and provocative remarks to gather information about Ming Qiuxue. His questions reveal his strong curiosity and restrained longing, though he is careful not to approach Ming directly.
• Lu Mi: Remains blunt, intimidating, and hostile toward outsiders, but is willing to tolerate Yan Mei when financial benefits for Freedom Star are involved. His protective feelings toward his brother become clear when he assumes Yan Mei is pursuing Ming Qiuxue.
• Zhang Jiao: Acts as a nervous mediator between Yan Mei and Lu Mi. His fear of conflict and sensitivity to Lu Mi’s violent stories are emphasized when he faints.
• Ming Qiuxue: Does not appear directly, but remains central to Yan Mei’s interest and Lu Mi’s suspicions.
• Cang Qi: His success as the youngest Ace Mechanic in the Blue River System is presented as a major source of Freedom Star’s income.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and misunderstanding: Yan Mei’s appearance and ambiguous voice lead others to misread his identity and intentions.
• Wealth as influence: Yan Mei uses his enormous financial resources to secure access, information, and cooperation.
• Loyalty and protectiveness: Lu Mi’s hostility reflects his instinct to guard his brother from perceived romantic advances.
• Freedom Star’s difficult development: The city’s prosperity is undermined by the enormous cost and danger of building an underwater settlement.
• Dark humor and irony: Lu Mi’s terrifying stories affect Zhang Jiao rather than Yan Mei, while Lu Mi completely misreads Yan Mei’s motives.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Mei and Lu Mi: Their exchange is dominated by teasing, hostility, bargaining, and mutual misinterpretation. Yan Mei deliberately provokes Lu Mi, while Lu Mi interprets his questions as flirtation.
• Yan Mei and Zhang Jiao: Zhang Jiao tries to provide a diplomatic welcome and manage Lu Mi’s behavior, but Yan Mei largely ignores his attempts to soften the situation.
• Lu Mi and Zhang Jiao: Lu Mi threatens and dismisses Zhang Jiao, while Zhang Jiao anxiously tries to prevent him from offending Freedom Star’s wealthy guest.
• Yan Mei and Ming Qiuxue, indirectly: Yan Mei seeks information about Ming through Lu Mi because he is too hesitant to approach Ming himself.

• Key events: Lu Mi warns Lan Su that “Lady Lolita” is concealing something and may be using a lavish investment offer to pursue him. Lan Su decides to meet her, but she cancels twice, claiming illness and refusing an examination. Suspecting a deception, the commanders prepare a search warrant. Ming Qiuxue, grieving and withdrawn after losing Little Fox, volunteers to join the search so he can have something to do.
  Meanwhile, Yan Mei realizes the investigation is imminent and tries to flee the hotel in disguise. Ming spots him leaving and pursues him across Blue Whale Bridge. As Yan Mei runs, he sheds his mask, sunglasses, fake breasts, and wig, revealing himself. Ming catches him with his Longevity Lock, then kisses and embraces him.
• Character developments: Lu Mi’s instincts and political caution prove justified, though his suspicions about Lolita’s motives are mistaken. Lan Su weighs Freedom Star’s urgent financial needs against the risk of accepting the investment. Ming begins the chapter engulfed in grief and emptiness, but seeing Yan Mei transforms that sorrow into shock, relief, and affection. Yan Mei, who had planned to return under another identity, is frightened when caught but ultimately learns that Ming does not hate him.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts disguise and truth: Yan Mei’s elaborate Lolita persona hides his identity, while the pursuit strips the disguise away. It also explores grief, longing, and reconciliation, showing how love persists beneath anger and misunderstanding. Political necessity and personal desire intersect in the proposed investment.
• Character interactions: Lu Mi warns Lan Su and later offers to accompany Ming on the search. Cang Qi and Lu Mi discuss the suspicious cancellations. Ming’s colleagues worry about his fragile state, but he insists on joining the investigation. The central reunion between Ming and Yan Mei resolves the chapter’s emotional tension: Yan Mei fears punishment, while Ming reassures him that he has always loved him.

Chapter Summary: “Brother, He’s Bullying Me”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After being kissed and overwhelmed by emotion, Yan Mei collapses from exhaustion. Ming Qiuxue carries him back, openly caring for and indulging him.
• Lu Mi arrives intending to arrest the mysterious “Lady Lolita,” only to discover that the person is actually Yan Mei. The misunderstanding is cleared up, and Lu Mi abandons the assignment.
• Yan Mei insults Lu Mi for accusing him of having romantic designs on Ming Qiuxue. Ming Qiuxue sides with Yan Mei, telling Lu Mi to put away his handcuffs and accepting Yan Mei as his lover.
• The group realizes that Yan Mei is alive and that Ming Qiuxue went to Blue Star specifically to find him. Former critics, including Chang Feng and members of the Ming Family Army, apologize for previously misunderstanding Yan Mei’s actions.
• Yan Mei refuses praise or the title of “Director Yan Mei,” insisting that he acted out of personal motives rather than selfless ideals.
• Before leaving, Yan Mei taunts Lu Mi by implying that he knows why Lu Mi survived eight years earlier. When Lu Mi asks for the truth, Yan Mei teasingly refuses to explain.
• At home, Lu Mi reunites with Yu Tu and tells him that Yan Mei is alive and that Ming Qiuxue has finally found his partner.
• Lu Mi worries about Yan Mei’s previous connection to Yu Tu and reveals that Yan Mei “bullied” him. Yu Tu immediately offers to confront Yan Mei.
• Cang Qi invites everyone to a party at Little Seven Castle. Lu Mi persuades the reluctant Yu Tu to attend by exaggerating how difficult it will be to face Yan Mei and Ming Qiuxue alone.

Character Developments

• Yan Mei: Reveals a sharp, mischievous, and openly affectionate side. Though others view him as a heroic figure, he rejects their praise and admits he is petty and personally motivated. His reunion with Ming Qiuxue shows that he trusts and relies on him emotionally.
• Ming Qiuxue: Demonstrates unwavering devotion to Yan Mei, carrying him, soothing him, and prioritizing him over Lu Mi. His response that he chooses his “lover” over his “brother” confirms the seriousness of their relationship.
• Lu Mi: Shifts from pursuing Yan Mei as a suspect to being the target of Yan Mei’s teasing. He remains competitive and easily provoked, but his jealousy and concern reveal strong emotional attachment to both Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue.
• Yu Tu: Shows loyalty to Lu Mi despite his dislike of social gatherings. His willingness to confront Yan Mei on Lu Mi’s behalf highlights his protective nature and his understated confidence in physical conflict.
• Chang Feng and the Ming Family Army: Acknowledge that they wrongly judged Yan Mei and openly apologize, reflecting a broader change in how he is regarded.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and revised judgment: Characters who once looked down on Yan Mei are forced to reconsider him after learning the truth about his actions and survival.
• Love versus family loyalty: The humorous conflict between Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue emphasizes that romantic relationships can take priority over sibling-like bonds.
• Affection expressed through teasing: Yan Mei and Lu Mi insult and provoke each other, while Lu Mi uses exaggerated helplessness to gain Yu Tu’s support.
• Hidden truths and the past: Yan Mei’s knowledge of why Lu Mi survived eight years ago hints at unresolved events and secrets connected to their shared history.
• Emotional recovery and reunion: Yan Mei’s survival and reunion with Ming Qiuxue bring relief after a long separation, while Lu Mi and Yu Tu continue building a domestic, intimate life together.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Mei and Ming Qiuxue: Their physical closeness and Ming Qiuxue’s indulgent protection establish them as lovers. Their banter also shows Yan Mei’s comfort in relying on him.
• Yan Mei and Lu Mi: They immediately fall into antagonistic teasing, with Yan Mei calling him “Dead Leopard” and Lu Mi calling him a “little bastard.”
• Ming Qiuxue and Lu Mi: Ming Qiuxue calmly dismisses Lu Mi’s suspicions and chooses Yan Mei over him, provoking Lu Mi’s mock outrage.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu: Lu Mi reports Yan Mei’s “bullying” in a deliberately childish manner, prompting Yu Tu to defend him. Their exchange reveals both their intimacy and their playful dynamic.
• Yu Tu and Yan Mei: Although they were not close, Yan Mei previously knew about Yu Tu’s Partner Mark and helped him overwrite his memories, suggesting a significant connection to Yu Tu’s past.

Plot points and events

• Lu Mi and Yu Tu arrive at a modest welcome party at Little Seven Castle, where Lin Luo performs a wildly titled original song written by Zhang Jiao.
• Yu Tu is anxious about being greeted by the crowd, but Lu Mi’s long messages in the staff chat have persuaded everyone to keep their public enthusiasm restrained and give Yu Tu space.
• In a private section of the venue, the group reunites with Lan Su, Ming Qiuxue, and Yan Mei. Yan Mei greets Yu Tu warmly but insults Lu Mi, prompting Yu Tu to defend his partner and challenge Yan Mei to come outside.
• Lan Su calms the others, confident Yu Tu will not act rashly. Yu Tu takes Yan Mei to a quiet corner—but instead of fighting, thanks him for saving his life on Blue Star and offers to buy him gifts.
• Yu Tu asks Yan Mei to pretend he was frightened and not to bully Lu Mi anymore. Ming Qiuxue, who secretly followed them, overhears the exchange.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Mi shows affection for Yu Tu by teasing him about his intimidating reputation and arranging for others to keep their distance. When Yan Mei insults him, he looks to Yu Tu for support.
• Yu Tu remains outwardly imposing, but his nervousness around crowds and tenderness toward Lu Mi reveal a softer side. He protects Lu Mi, yet privately expresses gratitude to Yan Mei rather than seeking a fight.
• Yan Mei keeps up his provocative manner, especially toward Lu Mi, but accepts Yu Tu’s unexpected thanks and gift offer.
• Ming Qiuxue dotes on Yan Mei, peeling and feeding him oranges, and worries about the confrontation. His secret presence at the end exposes Yu Tu’s private arrangement.
• Lan Su calmly manages the group and trusts Yu Tu’s self-control.

Significant themes

• Public image versus private nature: Yu Tu’s fearsome reputation hides social anxiety and generosity.
• Affection and loyalty: Lu Mi and Yu Tu stand up for each other, while Ming Qiuxue’s attentiveness shows his growing attachment to Yan Mei.
• Gratitude and reconciliation: Yu Tu turns a confrontation into a private thank-you, repaying Yan Mei while setting a boundary about Lu Mi.
• Humor through contrast: The scene plays the threat of a fight against the anticlimactic reality of gift shopping and Yu Tu’s request that Yan Mei fake being intimidated.

Chapter Summary: “Part of the Truth from Eight Years Ago”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ming Qiuxue returns with Yan Mei, who pretends to be devastated after Yu Tu’s earlier confrontation. In reality, Yan Mei secretly teases and bites Ming Qiuxue while Ming protects him from everyone’s view.
• Yu Tu reveals that his apparent hostility toward Yan Mei was part of a scheme. He had secretly bought gifts and bribed Yan Mei, who pressured Ming Qiuxue into helping them deceive Lu Mi.
• After drinking several glasses of wine, Yu Tu becomes intoxicated. His normally suppressed “Bean Sprout” emotion reactor malfunctions, displaying symbols such as hearts, Xs, and check marks.
• Drunk and uninhibited, Yu Tu confesses the entire conspiracy to Lu Mi, insists that he did not truly hurt Yan Mei, and affectionately reassures Lu Mi that he will protect him from anyone who causes him harm.
• Lu Mi carries the intoxicated Yu Tu back to bed. Later, Yan Mei summons Lu Mi to the Sky Garden, where he reveals that he knows about Lu Mi and Yu Tu saving Ming Qiuxue on Blue Star.
• Yan Mei offers Lu Mi information about the events of eight years earlier in exchange for the favor of saving Ming Qiuxue.

Character Developments

• Yu Tu: His controlled, intimidating exterior disappears under the influence of alcohol. He becomes playful, affectionate, and emotionally honest, openly admitting his cooperation with Yan Mei and expressing deep attachment to Lu Mi. His confession also reveals that he once sacrificed his own memories and safety to protect Lu Mi.
• Lu Mi: He shows tenderness toward Yu Tu by covering him with his coat, carrying him to bed, and carefully tucking him in. Yan Mei’s revelation forces him to confront the possibility that Yu Tu suffered far more than he realized.
• Yan Mei: Though mischievous and provocative, he demonstrates loyalty toward Ming Qiuxue and a willingness to expose painful truths. He reveals that he helped Lu Mi escape Polaris Star eight years earlier.
• Ming Qiuxue: He cooperates with Yan Mei’s deception and quietly indulges Yan Mei’s antics, showing their close and playful relationship.
• Lan Xiao: His past control over Yu Tu is revealed as manipulative and threatening. He ordered Yu Tu to kill Lu Mi while apparently both fearing and hating Yu Tu.
• Black Shadow: The mecha acts protectively toward Yan Mei but is mocked for being too hesitant to attack.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and protection: Yu Tu’s actions show that he was willing to lose his memories and endanger himself to save Lu Mi.
• Hidden truths and manipulated identities: Lu Mi’s former identity as “Lu Xiaojiu” was deliberately erased so he could escape his past and live under a new identity.
• Love expressed through deception: The characters use schemes, bribery, and fake hostility to protect one another or create moments of happiness.
• Trauma and emotional repression: Yu Tu’s suppressed emotions emerge only when he is drunk, suggesting the psychological cost of his past conditioning.
• The cost of survival: The chapter reframes Lu Mi’s survival eight years earlier, implying that the apparent victim may not have been the one closest to death.

Important Character Interactions

• Yan Mei playfully torments Ming Qiuxue while Ming pretends to comfort him.
• Yu Tu and Lu Mi share a tender, humorous exchange in which Yu Tu confesses the conspiracy and asks Lu Mi not to be angry.
• Lu Mi cares for Yu Tu after he becomes drunk, emphasizing their intimate bond.
• Yan Mei confronts Lu Mi and reveals that he was responsible for taking him away from Polaris Star.
• The revelation explains that Yu Tu refused Lan Xiao’s order to kill Lu Mi and instead bargained to have his own memories overwritten, arranging for Yan Mei to rescue Lu Mi and give him a new identity.
• The chapter ends with Lu Mi realizing that his wound was not fatal; the life-threatening danger detected through their Partner Marks must have belonged to Yu Tu.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi learns the truth about Yu Tu’s past: Yu Tu willingly underwent memory overwriting twice, both times to protect or spare Lu Xiaojiu/Lu Mi. The realization overturns Lu Mi’s former belief that Yu Tu had killed him out of loyalty to the emperor.
• Yan Mei explains that beneath Yu Tu’s fearsome reputation as a ruthless “killing machine” was a deeply lonely and loving person who suffered intensely because he still possessed a heart.
• Overcome with guilt, Lu Mi mourns the years he failed to understand Yu Tu. He recognizes that Yu Tu had always been his protector and “big brother,” despite his violent history.
• Yan Mei and Lu Mi reconcile. Yan Mei promises to stop scolding him, and Lu Mi assures him that he never truly resented Yan Mei, partly because Yan Mei was Ming Qiuxue’s beloved.
• Yan Mei and Ming Qiuxue leave together, joking and flirting about their long separation and future relationship. They agree to visit Wang Ping the following day.
• Lu Mi spends the night grieving in the sky garden before returning to Yu Tu. He promises never to punish Yu Tu again, but Yu Tu immediately injures himself by removing his scars through self-repair, prompting Lu Mi to revoke the promise.
• Their exchange becomes affectionate and humorous: Yu Tu eagerly asks to be punished, while Lu Mi remains exasperated but clearly loves him.
• Ming Qiuxue visits Wang Ping’s grave, leaves flowers and a cigar, apologizes for his recent intimacy with Wang Ping, and changes the gravestone inscription to honor Wang Ping as a righteous benefactor of both him and Yan Mei.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi/Lu Xiaojiu: Finally understands the depth of Yu Tu’s sacrifices and recognizes that his earlier resentment was based on a tragic misunderstanding. His guilt turns into compassion, and he openly promises to stop punishing Yu Tu—though his exasperation quickly returns when Yu Tu deliberately hurts himself.
• Yu Tu: Is revealed as far more emotionally vulnerable and self-sacrificing than his reputation suggests. His memory overwrites and willingness to suffer were motivated by love for Lu Mi. His playful eagerness to be punished shows both his unusual psychology and his desire for reassurance and closeness.
• Yan Mei: Shows unexpected sympathy toward Lu Mi, comforting him rather than mocking him. His emotional reaction reveals how deeply he values the survival and reconciliation of the people around him.
• Ming Qiuxue: Acts as a steady, affectionate partner to Yan Mei and demonstrates respect for Wang Ping by revising the grave’s inscription and acknowledging his contribution.
• Wang Ping: Though absent and deceased, he remains influential through the gratitude and remembrance of Ming Qiuxue and Yan Mei.

Significant Themes

• Love expressed through sacrifice: Yu Tu’s repeated memory overwrites and suffering demonstrate love as an act of self-erasure and protection.
• Misunderstanding and belated understanding: Lu Mi’s grief comes from realizing too late that Yu Tu’s apparent cruelty concealed devotion.
• The humanity beneath violence: Yu Tu’s reputation as a killer contrasts with his loneliness, tenderness, and capacity for love.
• Forgiveness and reconciliation: Lu Mi and Yan Mei put aside resentment, while Lu Mi attempts to forgive Yu Tu and himself.
• Memory and identity: The two versions of Yu Tu—one who remembered Lu Mi and one who forgot him—are both presented as genuine expressions of the same love.
• Grief and remembrance: Wang Ping’s grave scene emphasizes honoring the dead and preserving their moral legacy.
• Humor within trauma: Flirtation, teasing, and Yu Tu’s absurd response to punishment provide warmth after the chapter’s painful revelations.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi and Yan Mei: Share an emotional reconciliation. Yan Mei comforts Lu Mi and acknowledges Yu Tu’s hidden suffering.
• Yan Mei and Ming Qiuxue: Reunited lovers tease and flirt while reflecting on the hardships that kept them apart.
• Lu Mi and Yu Tu: Lu Mi offers forgiveness and affection, while Yu Tu responds with immediate enthusiasm and comic self-destructive behavior, reaffirming their complicated but loving bond.
• Ming Qiuxue and Wang Ping: Ming Qiuxue honors Wang Ping at his grave, apologizing and publicly recognizing him as a righteous benefactor.

Key plot points

• Three rebel armies have risen against Blue Star’s ruler, Lan Xiao, while unrest spreads to the neighboring Nomadic Scattered Star Cluster.
• Lan Xiao sends 100,000 Imperial Army troops toward Cangmu Star. Ming Qiuxue and Yu Tu conclude that the first three routes are also meant to seize Cangmu Star, block Yu Tu’s access to Freedom Star, and eventually encircle his territory.
• Yu Tu plans to let Lan Xiao’s forces and the rebels weaken each other. He also intends to take Ripple Planet while its ruler, Duke Seelie, is still wavering.
• Yu Tu leaves for Cangmu Star with Lu Mi aboard the ready-to-launch Q16.
• Before they depart, Yan Mei teases Yu Tu about the unusual presents he gave him, then flirts with Ming Qiuxue. Lu Mi jokes that Ming must have a “secret ailment.” Ming answers the insinuation with a forceful kiss, and the two leave together.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Tu stays calm and strategic despite Lan Xiao’s attempt to hem him in. He is confident he can exploit the conflict and Seelie’s indecision. His affection for Lu Mi shows in small gestures, and he is wary of upsetting him.
• Lu Mi is fiercely protective of Yu Tu, quickly understanding that Lan Xiao is targeting him. He also reacts with jealousy when Yan Mei clings to Yu Tu, and later takes Ming’s teasing literally.
• Ming Qiuxue provides the central military analysis, identifying Lan Xiao’s broader plan. Though he appears restrained while Yan Mei provokes him, he ultimately responds decisively and playfully asserts control.
• Yan Mei is bold and mischievous, openly flirting with both Yu Tu and Ming Qiuxue. His teasing reveals a comfortable, intimate dynamic with Ming.
• Lan Su and Cang Qi share a playful, affectionate interaction; Lan Su stops Cang Qi from prying into Ming’s private life.

Significant themes

• Power and strategy: Lan Xiao’s troop movements show that political and military campaigns can target an opponent indirectly by cutting off routes and limiting options.
• Pragmatism amid chaos: Yu Tu treats the rebellion as an opportunity, planning to let enemies exhaust one another before expanding his own position.
• Affection, jealousy, and teasing: The strategic discussion gives way to light romantic banter, revealing the characters’ close bonds and contrasting public seriousness with private intimacy.

Key plot points

• Yu Tu learns that Ripple Planet is divided among Zhao Yi, Cody, and Wu Qing, who hold real power despite Seelie’s nominal rule. With Lan Xiao’s Imperial Army due to reach Cangmu Star within five days, Yu Tu orders a swift takeover: he will pressure Seelie at the palace while Lu Mi, Wang Mo, and Chen Jun each lead troops to restore order in the three districts.
• Yu Tu wants more than a change of leadership—he aims to prevent the divided loyalties and civil strife seen on Cangmu Star from spreading to his territory.
• Lu Mi departs with the Ninth Army and Black Shadow. Yu Tu stays aboard the Black Shark Battleship and heads for Ripple Planet.
• Meanwhile, sixty thousand Imperial Army soldiers approach Cangmu Star. Commander Sophie boasts that his forces could easily take Ripple Planet too.
• Zhao Yi appears to defect to Lan Xiao, claiming he is bringing five thousand loyal soldiers. Sophie welcomes him aboard, ignoring a subordinate’s warning that the offer might be a trap.
• Zhao Yi’s “loyalty” proves to be a setup. Lu Mi has infiltrated the party in disguise; he kills Zhao Yi in front of Sophie and threatens the commander.

Character developments and interactions

• Yu Tu shows himself to be a strategic ruler who values stable, unified governance over simply seizing territory. He sends Lu Mi away with affection and confidence, entrusting him with an important mission.
• Lu Mi accepts the assignment with enthusiasm, sharing a tender farewell and playful banter with Yu Tu before revealing his ruthless side in battle.
• Sophie is arrogant and overconfident, dismissing warnings because he believes his superior numbers make him untouchable.
• Zhao Yi pretends to support Lan Xiao, but his apparent defection is part of Lu Mi’s operation; he becomes Lu Mi’s first victim.
• Black Shadow stays with Yu Tu as Lu Mi’s watchful companion, while the Black Shark AI provides comic relief by theatrically acting frail.

Significant themes

• Power and loyalty: A planet cannot be secured merely by replacing its ruler; its competing factions must also be brought under control.
• Order and the cost of peace: Yu Tu sees peace as something that may require force, but hopes to prevent future civil war through decisive action.
• Overconfidence and deception: Sophie’s confidence in his numbers makes him easy to fool, while Lu Mi’s disguise turns the supposed defection into an ambush.
• Affection amid conflict: Yu Tu and Lu Mi’s loving, humorous farewell contrasts with the violence of their missions.

Chapter Summary: “Yu Tu’s Diamond-grade Energy Crystal”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Mi abruptly attacks Imperial commander Sophie, killing him by crushing his throat after redirecting Sophie's own energy bullet into another soldier.
• He seizes control of the battleship and broadcasts a surrender ultimatum to the Imperial Army, revealing himself as Yu Tu’s most loyal follower.
• The battle on Cangmu Star expands into widespread chaos. Lu Mi’s guerrilla tactics and exceptional speed overwhelm the Imperial commanders, while Ming Qiuxue arrives with Freedom Army reinforcements.
• Ming Qiuxue’s reputation and connections allow the Freedom Army to absorb local insurgents rapidly, turning the Imperial Army’s suppression campaign into an increasingly unpopular and disastrous invasion.
• Lu Mi defeats Ai Hui, a Diamond-Grade Black Bear, despite Ai Hui’s superior strength and durability. Lu Mi’s agility and claws leave Ai Hui seriously wounded.
• Of the sixty thousand Imperial troops sent to Cangmu Star, twenty thousand are lost in less than half a month, with most survivors wounded.
• A surviving soldier reports that Zhou Lü has annihilated another forty thousand Imperial troops sent to eliminate him. Overwhelmed by the catastrophic losses, Lan Xiao orders a retreat.
• Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue celebrate their victory, though Ming Qiuxue reminds him that it is only the beginning.
• After Lu Mi captures an Imperial battleship, Lan Xiao uses its communications system to contact Yu Tu. He taunts Yu Tu about his supposed betrayal of Lu Xiaojiu and reveals that he still possesses Yu Tu’s Diamond-grade Energy Crystal.
• Lan Xiao boasts that he obtained the crystal by exploiting lowborn civilians and forcing Yu Tu’s cooperation. His cruel recollection suggests Yu Tu endured ten hours of blood loss during the extraction.
• Yu Tu responds calmly, recognizing Lan Xiao’s taunts as evidence of fear. He declares that Lan Xiao cannot defeat him because he has Lu Mi—the “best Little Black Panther in the world.”
• Ming Qiuxue gently teases Lu Mi for crying after the call, though Lu Mi angrily denies it.

Character Developments

• Lu Mi: Establishes himself as a brilliant and terrifying military commander. His speed, evasiveness, and combat instincts allow him to defeat stronger opponents and turn a small force into a major threat. His fierce loyalty to Yu Tu becomes especially clear when Lan Xiao insults Yu Tu and mentions Lu Xiaojiu.
• Ming Qiuxue: Demonstrates strong leadership and political influence by uniting insurgents and expanding the Freedom Army. He remains composed and encouraging, balancing Lu Mi’s aggression with strategic perspective.
• Lan Xiao: Becomes increasingly furious and desperate as his military campaigns collapse. His angry outbursts reveal his frustration with his commanders and his fear of Yu Tu’s growing influence. He also shows his cruelty by taking pride in the extraction of Yu Tu’s Energy Crystal.
• Yu Tu: Though absent from the battlefield, he displays psychological strength and confidence. Rather than being provoked by Lan Xiao’s accusations, he turns the exchange around by identifying Lan Xiao’s fear.
• Sophie and the Imperial commanders: Their failure highlights the incompetence of Lan Xiao’s military leadership compared with Lu Mi, Ming Qiuxue, and the other rebel forces.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and betrayal: Lu Mi’s unwavering devotion to Yu Tu contrasts with Lan Xiao’s accusations that Yu Tu betrayed and killed Lu Xiaojiu. The chapter questions who the true betrayer is.
• Fear beneath cruelty: Lan Xiao’s aggressive speech and obsession with the past reveal that his cruelty masks anxiety about Yu Tu and the rebel forces.
• Power and exploitation: The Diamond-grade Energy Crystal represents the physical and political cost of Lan Xiao’s oppression, especially his exploitation of lowborn civilians and Yu Tu.
• Military strategy versus brute force: Lu Mi’s agility and guerrilla tactics defeat larger forces and stronger opponents, demonstrating that intelligence and mobility can overcome raw power.
• Hope and resistance: The Imperial Army’s defeat marks a major victory for the rebellion, while Ming Qiuxue’s statement that this is “only the beginning” emphasizes the larger struggle ahead.
• Emotional vulnerability: Despite his fierce image, Lu Mi is deeply affected by Lan Xiao’s words about Yu Tu, revealing the tenderness and protectiveness beneath his combat persona.

Important Character Interactions

• Lu Mi kills Sophie and takes control of the Imperial battleship through both violence and psychological dominance.
• Lan Xiao criticizes his commanders for allowing Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue to outmaneuver the Imperial Army.
• Lu Mi and Ming Qiuxue share a victorious but restrained moment, acknowledging both their success and the continuing conflict.
• Lan Xiao deliberately contacts Yu Tu through Lu Mi’s captured ship to provoke him, using Lu Xiaojiu and the Diamond-grade Energy Crystal as emotional weapons.
• Yu Tu counters Lan Xiao’s manipulation with calm confidence, defending Lu Mi’s importance and turning the conversation into a declaration of strength.
• Ming Qiuxue comforts and teases Lu Mi afterward, revealing their growing camaraderie.