Chapter Summaries

An ugly black fish watched the last water vanish from a polluted river and the cracked blue bead beside it shatter. Rain finally fell, but the fish mourned the bead as its cries faded beneath the storm.

• A feeble trickle dried up in the garbage-strewn riverbed, leaving the ugly black fish stranded in the mud.
• The ugly black fish tried to moisten the cracked blue bead with a droplet of water but lacked the strength to save it.
• Thunder and violent winds swept over the riverbed, while the fish waited in vain for rain to arrive before the bead broke.
• The blue bead shattered as a thunderclap rang out, and rain poured down onto the riverbed and the fish.
• The ugly black fish stared at the shattered bead and wept mournfully in the storm.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

The Rain God, Shui Wuyuan, notices a dying black fish lying in the dried-up Qinglan River and mocks its miserable condition. His presence is sensed by another ancient deity sleeping beneath the ice-blue waters at the river’s source. The second god awakens, unleashing enormous waves, rain, and snow before traveling eastward along the river. As he moves, water returns to the land, vegetation responds, and aquatic creatures celebrate his arrival.
The two gods briefly encounter one another through the storm. Shui Wuyuan then recognizes the dying fish as River’s Clear Ripple, apparently the former Qinglan River God, and sarcastically remarks on how far he has fallen. Taking human form, Shui Wuyuan posts mocking photographs of the polluted, dried river and the fish on Weibo. His post goes viral, sparking widespread discussion about the river’s history, pollution, environmental destruction, and humanity’s responsibility.
Meanwhile, the newly arrived river deity’s power causes the Qinglan River to begin flowing again. The current is weak, but the water revives the black fish, whose belly begins moving once more.

Character developments

• Shui Wuyuan: Revealed as a powerful, prideful, and sarcastic Rain God with considerable influence in the human world. Although he publicly mocks the Qinglan River and its fallen god, his actions also draw attention to the river’s suffering and indirectly inspire environmental concern.
• The awakened pale-blue deity: Clearly connected to the river’s source and capable of commanding water, rain, snow, plants, and aquatic life. His arrival suggests the return or intervention of an ancient river-related power.
• The black fish/River’s Clear Ripple: Implied to be the degraded or dying remnant of the once-glorious Qinglan River God. It begins recovering when the river’s sacred water returns.

Significant themes

• Environmental destruction: Pollution, illegal dumping, water diversion, and human interference are presented as the causes of the Qinglan River’s decline.
• Decline and restoration: The contrast between the river’s glorious ancient past and its present ruin emphasizes loss, while the returning water hints at renewal.
• Ancient gods in the modern world: Divine beings interact with contemporary technology and social media, blending mythology with modern life.
• Power and responsibility: Shui Wuyuan uses mockery and online influence to expose environmental problems, while the river deity restores life through supernatural power.
• Recognition and memory: Shui Wuyuan’s recognition of “River’s Clear Ripple” suggests an older relationship or history between the gods.

Character interactions

The two gods communicate primarily through a silent, hostile glance across the storm, their contrasting eyes reflecting their opposing personalities. Shui Wuyuan directly addresses the fallen river deity with cruel amusement, while the awakened river god responds not verbally but through the restoration of water and life. Humans interact indirectly through Weibo, reacting to Shui Wuyuan’s post and turning his mockery into a broader environmental movement.

Chapter 2 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During a storm, the last surviving river spirit—a filthy, emaciated black carp—sees its beloved River God descend from the night sky.
• The god, He Qinglan, assumes a human form, disguising his divine appearance and transforming his icy-blue hair and striking eyes.
• He picks up the exhausted carp and uses spiritual water to heal it. Its damaged body is restored, and its dull, mottled scales become beautiful, translucent, and lustrous.
• He Qinglan investigates the ruined Qinglan River and recalls the six Source Spring Spirit Pearls he created to sustain the river and its surrounding ecosystem.
• Five of the six pearls have been destroyed, corrupted, or lost. The river has suffered breaks in its flow, severe pollution, and spiritual damage, forcing He Qinglan to awaken from his thousand-year slumber.
• Furious at humanity’s destruction of his river, He Qinglan considers flooding the nearby city of Bicheng. However, he restrains himself because humanity is tied to the world’s fate, divine punishment is possible, and his own power has been severely weakened.
• He uses his remaining divine power to repair the shattered spirit pearl. The fragments reunite into a translucent ice-blue pearl, though it remains covered in cracks and is still dangerously fragile.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan is established as a proud, beautiful, and highly possessive River God who deeply treasures the Qinglan River. His awakening reveals his intense anger and disgust at its pollution, as well as his tendency to blame humanity collectively.
• Despite his rage, He Qinglan demonstrates restraint and responsibility. He refuses to destroy Bicheng because he understands the consequences and knows he must conserve his limited strength.
• His healing of the black carp shows that beneath his arrogance and irritation, he is protective of the river’s remaining life.
• The Black Carp, once near death, becomes the last surviving river spirit in the area. It is devoted to He Qinglan, repeatedly calling to him with excited “ying-ying” cries and treating him as its divine savior.

Significant Themes

• Environmental destruction: The ruined river, broken spirit pearls, garbage, and polluted air emphasize humanity’s damage to nature.
• The conflict between divine power and human dominance: He Qinglan possesses immense authority but cannot act freely because humans control the world’s present destiny and divine energy is scarce.
• Restoration and survival: The carp’s healing and the partial repair of the spirit pearl suggest that damaged nature can recover, but only with great effort and care.
• Beauty and ugliness: The carp’s transformation reflects the chapter’s recurring concern with appearance, while He Qinglan’s disgust at the polluted river contrasts with his reverence for its former beauty.
• Suppressed vengeance: He Qinglan’s decision to postpone revenge creates the sense that humanity may eventually face consequences for destroying the river.

Character Interactions

• The Black Carp worshipfully greets He Qinglan and reacts with overwhelming joy when he appears.
• He Qinglan responds to its devotion with dry irritation, telling it to stop “ying-ying-ing,” but he still carefully heals and protects it.
• Their relationship combines the carp’s unconditional reverence with He Qinglan’s reluctant but genuine care.
• The chapter also presents an indirect conflict between He Qinglan and humanity: although humans are not directly present in a sustained interaction, their pollution provokes his anger and shapes his decision to conserve power rather than retaliate immediately.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

He Qinglan explains that repairing the Source Spring Spirit Pearl requires more than his own power. The river must be restored to a healthy state, with clean water, thriving vegetation, and returning wildlife. The Black Carp realizes that, as the only remaining creature nearby, it cannot accomplish this alone. He Qinglan initially considers using divine power to clear the river, but discovers that his Spiritual Power has been almost completely exhausted after his journey and the destruction of five spirit pearls.
Unable to rest because the riverbank is covered in garbage, He Qinglan spends the night using rainwater and currents to gather trash. By morning, he has cleared a small patch of land and piled the waste nearby, but his recovery is minimal because the area’s spiritual energy is extremely weak. To conserve energy, he seals most of his divine power and assumes an ordinary mortal appearance. He places the Black Carp in a discarded tin can and resumes cleaning the river by hand.

Character developments

He Qinglan’s immense power and pride are contrasted with his weakened condition. Though frustrated and humiliated by his lack of Spiritual Power, he remains determined to restore the river and protect the Source Spring Spirit Pearl. His decision to perform exhausting manual labor shows his practicality and responsibility. The Black Carp, now intelligent and deeply devoted to him, becomes distressed by the River God’s suffering but also demonstrates growing awareness of the scale of their task.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes environmental destruction and restoration, showing how pollution has nearly killed the river and erased its ecosystem. It also explores humility and sacrifice: a powerful deity must abandon his majestic form, conserve his strength, and perform mundane labor. The bond between divine protector and dependent creature is presented humorously but affectionately, with the Black Carp’s dramatic concern highlighting its loyalty.

Character interactions

He Qinglan reassures the anxious Black Carp, telling it not to panic and promising that conditions will improve now that he has awakened. He gently flicks its head and later comforts it after placing it in the tin can, explaining that he must conserve his power. The Black Carp reacts with exaggerated grief to its River God’s reduced appearance and circumstances, while He Qinglan quietly continues cleaning despite his exhaustion.

Chapter 3 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At dawn, He Qinglan, the impoverished River God, continues scavenging trash along the Qinglan River.
• Four humans arrive: an elderly female scavenger and three young people carrying trash-picking equipment and a phone camera.
• The young trio is revealed to be filming content to exploit the popularity of “Boss Water’s” environmental post. They want to attract attention and gain followers rather than genuinely help the environment.
• He Qinglan overhears their conversation and, unfamiliar with modern concepts such as livestreaming, Weibo, and online donations, initially misunderstands their motives.
• The Black Carp explains modern human technology and internet culture to him, helping him realize that the trio is picking up trash as a form of paid entertainment and publicity.
• He Qinglan accepts their actions as long as they genuinely collect trash and potentially encourage others to protect the environment.
• He helps the elderly scavenger gather plastic bottles and gives them to her after learning that recyclable trash can be exchanged for money.
• The chapter ends when He Qinglan witnesses the young man who had publicly preached environmental responsibility casually throw an entire bag of collected trash back onto the ground.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Demonstrates patience, compassion, and a practical understanding of human behavior. Although confused by modern society, he is willing to accept unfamiliar customs if they produce beneficial results. His generosity is shown when he gives the elderly woman the recyclable bottles. His calm attitude is threatened when he sees the young man’s hypocrisy.
• Black Carp: Acts as He Qinglan’s guide to modern human culture, explaining phones, social media, videos, livestreaming, and online fame. He is emotionally attached to and protective of the River God, reacting dramatically to He Qinglan’s poverty and hardships.
• The three young people: Present themselves as environmental volunteers but are primarily motivated by online popularity and profit. The woman and one man appear willing to collect trash sincerely for the camera, while the other man is jealous of He Qinglan’s beauty and openly judgmental.
• The elderly scavenger: Represents people who collect recyclable waste out of necessity rather than publicity. Her interaction with He Qinglan highlights his generosity and her practical dependence on the trash’s monetary value.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: The young trio performs environmental concern for an audience, while He Qinglan quietly performs genuine work without seeking recognition.
• Modern commercialization: Even environmental activism can become online content and a source of income.
• Genuine kindness versus performative morality: He Qinglan’s unadvertised help contrasts sharply with the young man’s public claims and later hypocrisy.
• Adaptation to a changed world: He Qinglan must learn unfamiliar modern customs after awakening in a society vastly different from the one he knew.
• Environmental responsibility: The chapter questions whether actions motivated by fame are still valuable if they ultimately encourage people to care for nature.

Character Interactions

• The three young people judge and speculate about He Qinglan, assuming he is another streamer and attributing his beauty to plastic surgery.
• He Qinglan listens to them without confrontation and continues working, showing restraint.
• Black Carp explains the trio’s behavior and modern media culture to He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan helps the elderly woman gather bottles and gives her the recyclable materials, creating a quiet exchange based on compassion.
• The chapter’s final incident sets up a likely confrontation between He Qinglan and the hypocritical young man after he throws away the trash he had just collected.

Chapter 4 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• While cleaning the riverside, He Qinglan watches three young people film an environmental video.
• Zhang Feng, the rude short member of the group, deliberately throws an untied garbage bag onto the area He Qinglan has already cleaned and silently insults him as “trash.”
• His companion, Meng Tiantian, leaves her own garbage and the group’s cleaning tools behind, though she is visibly embarrassed by their behavior.
• He Qinglan orders them to stop and pick up the garbage. His calm but imposing presence pressures Meng Tiantian and Niu Zhuang into obeying.
• Zhang Feng refuses, insults He Qinglan, boasts that he will litter even more, and spits at him.
• The Black Carp, He Qinglan’s supernatural companion, retaliates by blasting rotten river mud onto Zhang Feng’s face.
• He Qinglan then uses his powers to cause Zhang Feng intense pain and uncontrollable itching. Zhang Feng collapses, laughing and screaming.
• The chapter ends with Zhang Feng being forced to submit, ironically becoming a “grandson” despite declaring that he never would.

Character Development

• He Qinglan: Reveals a calm, authoritative, and subtly intimidating nature. He initially tries to handle the situation peacefully, but when Zhang Feng refuses, he demonstrates that his supernatural abilities can easily punish human misconduct.
• Zhang Feng: Is established as arrogant, aggressive, shameless, and contemptuous of both environmental responsibility and He Qinglan. His confidence collapses once He Qinglan and the Black Carp retaliate.
• Meng Tiantian: Shows guilt and basic decency. Unlike Zhang Feng, she is willing to acknowledge her wrongdoing and immediately helps clean up.
• Niu Zhuang: Though initially hesitant, he is also intimidated by He Qinglan and assists Meng Tiantian.
• Black Carp: Acts as He Qinglan’s fiercely loyal and comical protector, reacting angrily when Zhang Feng insults its master and using river mud as a weapon.

Significant Themes

• Respect for nature and environmental responsibility: The chapter contrasts the group’s performative environmental video with their actual careless behavior.
• Consequences for hypocrisy: Zhang Feng’s environmental neglect and arrogance are punished, exposing the gap between public image and genuine conduct.
• Power and moral authority: He Qinglan’s supernatural power allows him to enforce basic decency, though he frames his intervention as simply making Zhang Feng clean up his own mess.
• Humor through reversal: Zhang Feng insists that he will never submit, only to be forced into obedience almost immediately.
• Appearance versus reality: He Qinglan’s beautiful, delicate appearance causes Zhang Feng to underestimate him, while his calm demeanor conceals overwhelming power.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Feng taunts and insults He Qinglan, assuming his appearance and inexpensive clothing make him weak.
• He Qinglan responds without anger, giving the group a simple order to clean up.
• Meng Tiantian and Niu Zhuang comply because of their guilt and He Qinglan’s intimidating presence.
• The Black Carp intervenes dramatically after Zhang Feng spits, creating a humorous master-and-familiar dynamic.
• He Qinglan delivers the final punishment, turning Zhang Feng’s defiance into reluctant submission.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Feng, a popular short-video blogger with five million followers, mocks and dumps trash near the River God’s territory.
• He Qinglan, the River God in human form, retaliates by tapping Zhang’s shoulder and stomach, causing severe pain and uncontrollable itching through subtle manipulation of his blood flow.
• Zhang quickly collapses, begs for mercy, and is forced to collect all the garbage he discarded before leaving.
• Although terrified, Zhang remains resentful and privately plans to seek revenge against He Qinglan.
• Meng Tiantian and Niu Zhuang witness the incident. Both are intimidated by He Qinglan’s power and striking appearance, while Meng is especially amused and impressed by his shamelessly arrogant demeanor.
• After Zhang and the others flee, the Black Carp tries to cheer He Qinglan up by performing spins and making heart shapes in its jar.
• The River God reveals that he is not upset by Zhang but simply found the man extremely ugly. This reminds the Black Carp of his legendary flaw: He Qinglan is exceptionally beauty-conscious and looks down on unattractive things.
• The Black Carp becomes insecure, fearing that He Qinglan considers it ugly. He Qinglan reassures it by praising its scales, fins, and eyes, but then says it would look better with red-and-white markings like a koi.
• The Black Carp is devastated by this backhanded compliment and spends the morning whining, though it ultimately continues forgiving He Qinglan and supporting him.
• After spending the night and morning cleaning up trash, He Qinglan becomes hungry. With most of his divine power sealed and his human body restored, he realizes he must eat despite considering human needs troublesome.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Demonstrates his overwhelming supernatural power, strict intolerance for ugliness and disrespect, and a highly aristocratic, vain personality. He remains detached from human suffering but shows some affection toward the Black Carp. His hunger marks an important adjustment to inhabiting a mortal body.
• Zhang Feng: Changes from an arrogant provocateur into a frightened, humiliated victim. His outward submission is purely practical, as he continues plotting revenge internally.
• Black Carp: Reveals strong loyalty and emotional attachment to He Qinglan. It is easily wounded by his aesthetic standards but remains devoted, forgiving, and eager to help him adapt to the modern world.
• Meng Tiantian and Niu Zhuang: Become more intimidated by He Qinglan after witnessing his powers. Meng is fascinated by his beauty and exaggerated confidence, while Niu Zhuang unexpectedly feels inferior despite not usually caring about appearances.

Significant Themes

• Power and humiliation: He Qinglan effortlessly reverses the power dynamic, forcing the arrogant Zhang Feng to endure helplessness and public embarrassment.
• Beauty and prejudice: He Qinglan judges people and creatures primarily by appearance, creating both comic situations and emotional tension.
• Human versus divine nature: His difficulty with hunger and physical fatigue emphasizes the contrast between his former godly existence and his current human limitations.
• Loyalty and affection: The Black Carp’s devotion persists despite He Qinglan’s insensitive remarks, showing a humorous but genuine bond between them.
• Environmental responsibility: The conflict begins with illegal dumping, reinforcing the River God’s concern for the cleanliness and dignity of his domain.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Zhang Feng: Their confrontation exposes Zhang’s arrogance and He Qinglan’s ruthless, disdainful authority. He Qinglan punishes Zhang physically, then orders him to clean up the trash.
• He Qinglan and the Black Carp: Their exchange combines affection with emotional comedy. The Black Carp tries to comfort him, while He Qinglan praises it but unintentionally insults its coloring.
• He Qinglan, Meng Tiantian, and Niu Zhuang: The two witnesses are too intimidated to intervene and are struck by He Qinglan’s unnatural beauty and commanding presence.
• Black Carp and He Qinglan’s reputation: The Black Carp recalls the River God’s established reputation as the most beautiful and powerful of river gods, along with his flaw of despising ugliness.

Chapter 5 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Now trapped in a mortal body, He Qinglan discovers that surviving as a human requires money and regular meals. Unlike when he was a River God, he can no longer freely obtain fish, shrimp, gold, jade, or other river treasures.
• The Qinglan River has become polluted and filled with garbage, leaving him unable to rely on it for food or resources. He regrets giving recyclable plastic bottles to an elderly scavenger woman instead of selling them.
• He devises a plan to obtain food by exploiting his extraordinary beauty. Reasoning that River Gods traditionally receive offerings from those they protect, he decides to find a “face fanatic” or recruit a follower who will provide him with food in exchange for protection.
• Guided by Black Carp’s explanation of money and food, He Qinglan travels to the busy area outside Bicheng College of Arts, located beside the polluted Qinglan River.
• His appearance immediately attracts widespread attention. Despite wearing inexpensive clothing and carrying a jar containing Black Carp, he is treated like an otherworldly “Immortal Pretty Boy.”
• He approaches a clean and attractive jianbing guozi stall run by a tall young man and solemnly declares: “Offer me a pancake, and I will keep you safe today.”
• The surrounding students and passersby assume he is another eccentric person trying to become famous online, recalling previous fake “gods” and supernatural performers associated with the college.
• The stall owner, Qi Xiaoyuan, refuses to give him free food and instead offers to sell him a pancake. He Qinglan then warns Qi Xiaoyuan that a heavy evil aura surrounds him and that he appears doomed to die that day.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Begins confronting the practical humiliation of mortal life. His former divine authority clashes humorously with his lack of money, food, and social understanding. He remains self-important and literal, interpreting food as an offering and believing his beauty should naturally attract worshippers.
• Black Carp: Acts as He Qinglan’s guide to human customs, particularly money and food, while privately criticizing the River God’s behavior. His commentary highlights the absurdity of He Qinglan’s plan.
• Qi Xiaoyuan: Introduced as the intimidating, handsome owner of the pancake stall. Though outwardly practical and business-minded, he reacts sharply when He Qinglan mentions his apparent death omen, suggesting the warning strikes a sensitive or serious nerve.

Significant Themes

• Divinity versus ordinary human survival: He Qinglan’s supernatural identity is useless for paying for food, forcing him to deal with poverty and hunger.
• Environmental decline: The polluted Qinglan River reflects the damage caused by human neglect and contrasts with its former abundance and importance.
• Misunderstanding between gods and humans: He Qinglan sincerely believes he is making a legitimate offer of divine protection, while everyone else interprets him as an eccentric seeking attention.
• Beauty and social power: His striking appearance gives him influence over onlookers, but it cannot automatically provide him with food or money.
• Fate and impending danger: He Qinglan’s warning about Qi Xiaoyuan’s “look of death” introduces a darker threat beneath the chapter’s comedy.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Black Carp discuss the human need for money and food as they travel.
• He Qinglan attempts to establish a worshipper-like relationship with the pancake vendor by offering protection in exchange for food.
• Qi Xiaoyuan rejects the idea of free tribute and insists on treating the exchange as an ordinary business transaction.
• The crowd observes and misinterprets the encounter, assuming He Qinglan is performing an eccentric persona for publicity.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan, secretly the River God of the Qinglan River, approaches Qi Xiaoyuan’s pancake stall disguised as a fortune-teller.
• He warns Qi that death is approaching him and offers protection in exchange for a pancake offering: one pancake for a day of safety, or daily offerings for lifelong protection from natural death, illness, and aging.
• Although initially dismissive, Qi becomes alarmed when He mentions that his grandfather will die with him. Desperate to protect his grandfather, Qi asks whether two pancakes can secure both their lives.
• He Qinglan examines Qi’s misfortune and agrees, saying Qi’s calamity is not yet fatal and that his family’s local connection to Linhe makes protection possible.
• Qi carefully prepares two pancakes as offerings, asking about He’s food preferences and treating him with unexpected attentiveness.
• When Qi asks for his name, He reveals his true identity: “He Qinglan,” the River God of the Qinglan River. His declaration causes the dried river’s water to stir, subtly confirming his divine nature.
• The surrounding crowd realizes that He is the legendary River God. His striking appearance and smile create a sensation, while talent scouts from multiple entertainment agencies rush to recruit him.

Character Developments

• Qi Xiaoyuan: Begins skeptical and contemptuous of He, assuming he is a foolish con man. However, concern for his grandfather overwhelms his skepticism, leading him to place his trust in He and make a sincere offering. His careful preparation of the pancakes also reveals a cautious but considerate nature.
• He Qinglan: Appears calm, otherworldly, and somewhat naïve about human society. He acts according to divine rules, offering protection in exchange for worship while making clear that deliberate suicide is excluded. Revealing his true name demonstrates both confidence and a connection to the river itself.
• The onlookers and talent scouts: Their reactions shift from amusement and disbelief to awe and opportunism. They immediately recognize He’s extraordinary beauty as valuable in the entertainment industry.

Significant Themes

• Faith born from desperation: Qi’s willingness to believe He reflects how fear and hope can push people to accept the impossible.
• Divinity hidden in ordinary life: He Qinglan appears as a strange young fortune-teller, yet he is literally the river god worshiped by local people.
• Offerings and reciprocal protection: The exchange of pancakes for divine protection establishes a relationship based on worship, trust, and obligation.
• Beauty and commodification: He’s supernatural appearance is treated both as proof of his divinity and as a marketable asset by entertainment companies.
• Nature’s response to its deity: The dried river stirring when He speaks his name symbolizes his inseparable bond with the Qinglan River.

Character Interactions

• He and Qi move from mutual skepticism to the beginnings of a contractual relationship: Qi offers food, while He promises protection for Qi and his grandfather.
• Their conversation is intimate and unexpectedly gentle, with Qi asking about He’s preferred ingredients and He answering in a soothing, composed manner.
• Once He reveals his identity, the private exchange becomes a public spectacle. The crowd debates whether his beauty can rival the popular “Water God,” while rival talent scouts aggressively compete for his attention.

Chapter 6 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Six talent scouts from major entertainment companies gather around He Qinglan, impressed by his extraordinary appearance and unusual presence.
• Old Master Song, initially disguised as a soup-dumpling vendor, reveals himself as a talent scout connected to his son, Song Qian—the powerful head of God of Wealth Entertainment.
• Despite the prestige of the offer, He Qinglan refuses to enter the entertainment industry. He solemnly explains that he has “more important things to do”: picking up trash.
• The agents conclude that He Qinglan’s thinking is genuinely abnormal rather than an intentional eccentric persona. Only the Orange Entertainment scout makes one final attempt to recruit him, but He Qinglan insists that trash collection is his actual job and that he will do nothing else.
• The agents leave, while Old Master Song moves his stall closer and continues observing and chatting with He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan states that he plans to collect trash at Qinglan River, correcting Song when he calls the river dry: it has begun flowing again, though only weakly.
• Song asks whether He Qinglan was inspired by Shui Wuyuan’s social-media post. He Qinglan reveals that he does not even know who Shui Wuyuan is.
• He Qinglan firmly rejects any comparison or connection to Shui Wuyuan, insisting that he collects trash solely for Qinglan River and is influenced by no one.
• Amused and impressed by He Qinglan’s attitude, Old Master Song praises him and offers him a basket of soup dumplings.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Remains completely focused on restoring Qinglan River. His serious, literal-minded nature makes him appear eccentric to modern people, but it also demonstrates his sincerity, independence, and strong sense of purpose. He is unaffected by fame, money, or public opinion.
• Old Master Song: Reveals himself to be far more influential than he appears. Rather than becoming offended by He Qinglan’s refusal, he becomes intrigued by him and begins treating him warmly.
• The talent scouts: Their initial excitement over He Qinglan’s beauty turns into concern and disappointment when they realize he has no interest in acting or celebrity status.
• Shui Wuyuan: Although absent from the scene, he becomes an important point of comparison. His fame and wealth are contrasted with He Qinglan’s complete lack of awareness of him.

Significant Themes

• Beauty versus practicality: He Qinglan’s appearance attracts widespread attention, but he rejects the glamorous opportunities his looks could provide.
• Different values: While others pursue fame, money, and status, He Qinglan values environmental restoration and his duty to Qinglan River.
• Misunderstanding and cultural dislocation: He Qinglan’s unusual responses make people question his sanity because they cannot understand his priorities.
• Public image and identity: The chapter humorously contrasts He Qinglan’s accidental “Immortal Pretty Boy” persona with his genuine identity as someone dedicated to cleaning the river.
• Rivalry and social status: Old Master Song’s resentment toward Shui Wuyuan introduces a humorous rivalry among wealthy and influential figures.

Character Interactions

• The scouts repeatedly attempt to recruit He Qinglan, but he rejects them with calm seriousness.
• Old Master Song questions He Qinglan about his plans and gradually becomes fond of his blunt, self-assured personality.
• When Song links him to Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan sharply distances himself, leading Song to enthusiastically praise him.
• The surrounding crowd and a student recording the encounter react with shock and amusement, reinforcing the comic contrast between He Qinglan’s solemnity and everyone else’s bewilderment.

Chapter Summary

• He Qinglan blesses Qi Xiaoyuan: After receiving free soup dumplings from Old Master Song, the River God prepares to leave Jade City Snack Street. Before departing, he splashes Qi Xiaoyuan’s forehead with water from Black Carp’s fishbowl, treating it as a divine blessing. Qi Xiaoyuan is annoyed, especially since he had given He Qinglan a deluxe jianbing, but tolerates him because of He Qinglan’s good looks and his own experience dealing with difficult people. He Qinglan then demands that Qi Xiaoyuan prepare different offerings for him the next day.
• He Qinglan’s quiet environmental work gains attention: Once He Qinglan leaves, the morning crowds at Bicheng College of Arts settle down. However, online interest in the Qinglan River continues to grow. The popular account Sweet Mountain V posts a video of Zhang Feng and Meng Tiantian collecting trash along the river. Meng Tiantian explains that she was saddened to see the polluted state of the river, which her grandmother remembered as clear and important to Bicheng’s people. She and Zhang Feng announce that they will return every morning and encourage others to help protect the river.
• Public reaction to the cleanup video: The video receives substantial attention because it is connected to the trending topics concerning the Water God, environmental protection, and the drying Qinglan River. Although some viewers suspect the cleanup is merely publicity, most approve of the positive action and acknowledge that the pair genuinely collected trash for some time.
• He Qinglan becomes an unexpected internet sensation: Viewers notice a third trash collector repeatedly appearing in the background. Though He Qinglan is distant from the camera and his face is mostly obscured, his elegant bearing and attractive profile fascinate online face-lovers. Netizens capture and enhance screenshots of him, praising his beauty and dignified presence. They jokingly describe him as an “Immortal Pretty Boy” who looks less like someone collecting garbage and more like someone inspecting his territory.
• Zhang Feng’s jealousy: The sudden attention toward He Qinglan infuriates Zhang Feng. He feels that He Qinglan has stolen the video’s traffic, popularity, and even potential fans despite appearing only briefly. His resentment reveals his possessiveness and insecurity, while Meng Tiantian reacts more calmly and secretly saves the attractive screenshots.

Character Developments and Interactions

• He Qinglan remains shameless, self-important, and detached from ordinary human behavior, sincerely viewing his fish-water splash as a divine blessing and expecting offerings in return. His dignified appearance contrasts humorously with his strange actions.
• Qi Xiaoyuan continues to act as the long-suffering, practical foil to He Qinglan, suppressing his irritation while making food for him.
• Meng Tiantian and Zhang Feng publicly present themselves as environmental advocates, but their differing reactions show their personalities: Meng is supportive and amused, while Zhang is jealous and focused on fame.
• The chapter emphasizes the contrast between He Qinglan’s genuine, unnoticed cleanup work and Zhang Feng and Meng Tiantian’s more public, potentially promotional activism.

Significant Themes

• Environmental responsibility: The Qinglan River’s pollution becomes a communal issue, with the chapter encouraging collective action to protect a historically important waterway.
• Publicity versus sincerity: The cleanup video may be partly promotional, but the chapter questions whether good actions lose value simply because they also generate attention.
• Appearance and internet fame: He Qinglan’s brief, blurry appearances attract more attention than the intended stars, satirizing online celebrity culture and the power of physical attractiveness.
• Human–divine comedy: He Qinglan’s godly identity is presented through mundane acts—eating snacks, demanding offerings, and picking up trash—creating humor through the clash between his lofty self-image and ordinary circumstances.

Chapter 7 Summary

Key plot points and events

• Enraged by the viral video of He Qinglan, Zhang Feng blames Niu Zhuang for filming it poorly and uses an alternate account to spread insulting speculation about the “pretty boy.”
• Zhang takes comfort in believing He Qinglan is anonymous, unable to afford a good phone, and unlikely to use Weibo to defend himself.
• His confidence collapses when the gossip blogger Jade Arts Gossip King posts a clearer video and front-facing screenshot of He Qinglan, dramatically increasing public attention.
• The post portrays He Qinglan as the mysterious “Trash-Picking Immortal Pretty Boy,” highlighting his rejection of entertainment scouts, his encounter with the God of Wealth Entertainment boss, and his dismissive warning to celebrity Shui Wuyuan not to ride his coattails.
• The story trends across Weibo, spawning hashtags such as #IWantToPickUpTrash, #DontAssociateMeWithShuiWuyuan, and #MakeOfferingsAndIllBlessYou. Netizens obsess over He Qinglan’s beauty, strange behavior, black fish, and apparent “immortal” persona.
• Fans repeatedly tag Shui Wuyuan, urging him to respond to He Qinglan’s provocation.
• Shui Wuyuan watches the videos and recognizes He Qinglan as the powerful Qinglan River God. He is amused by the contradiction between the god’s former divine might and his current mortal life of collecting trash.
• Shui Wuyuan deduces that He Qinglan has sealed away his powers and is likely short of money, finding the situation hilarious. However, He Qinglan’s cold dismissal irritates him and revives memories of the River God’s overwhelming former power.
• Shui Wuyuan’s amused, dangerous smile alarms his secretary, Shi Lin, who assumes someone is about to become the target of his sharp tongue.
• The chapter ends with Shui Wuyuan finally responding to the mass of tags, setting up a public confrontation between the two.

Character developments

• Zhang Feng becomes increasingly desperate and malicious, attempting to manipulate public opinion while relying on He Qinglan’s supposed anonymity.
• He Qinglan gains enormous popularity despite having no interest in fame. His extreme beauty, strange confidence, blunt speech, and dedication to trash-picking strengthen his mysterious, otherworldly image.
• Shui Wuyuan shifts from amused observer to personally engaged rival. He recognizes He Qinglan’s divine identity and is intrigued—and somewhat provoked—by the River God’s current weakness and disdain.
• Shi Lin reinforces his role as a wary subordinate who understands his boss’s moods and anticipates the consequences of Shui Wuyuan’s amusement.

Significant themes

• Public image versus true identity: He Qinglan is transformed online into an “immortal pretty boy,” while his actual identity as a powerful river god remains hidden.
• Divine power in ordinary circumstances: The chapter humorously contrasts He Qinglan’s former ability to command floods with his present need to collect recyclables and seek offerings.
• Viral fame and gossip culture: Social media rapidly exaggerates events, creates personas, and turns an obscure incident into a nationwide spectacle.
• Pride and rivalry: He Qinglan’s detached self-confidence clashes with Shui Wuyuan’s equally formidable ego and reputation.
• Economic hardship and adaptation: Despite his divine origins, He Qinglan must navigate mortal society and find unconventional ways to support himself.

Character interactions

• Zhang Feng and Niu Zhuang: Zhang directs his anger at Niu for the poor-quality recording and attempts to use the video to attack He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan and the public: His comments about offerings, trash-picking, and Shui Wuyuan make him a viral figure, though he remains indifferent to public approval.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan: He Qinglan dismisses Shui as someone trying to exploit his fame, while Shui recognizes him as the River God and reacts with amusement, irritation, and renewed interest.
• Shui Wuyuan and Shi Lin: Shi Lin observes Shui’s dangerous good mood and realizes that a verbal attack is likely imminent.

Chapter 8 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shui Wuyuan’s cryptic reply to He Qinglan—promising that He Qinglan will remember him and eventually seek him out—causes Weibo users to speculate wildly about their relationship. Many interpret it as an unusually subtle, flirtatious response rather than one of Shui Wuyuan’s usual dismissive insults.
• Netizens begin shipping Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan, imagining them as an arrogant “trash-talking CEO” and a cool, beautiful “immortal” who cleans up litter.
• He Qinglan’s sudden online fame attracts streamers and attention-seekers to the Qinglan River. They hope to film him, interact with him, or exploit his popularity for followers and money.
• The streamers harass He Qinglan while he works, following him with cameras and asking invasive or mocking questions. One streamer tries to put an arm around him but mysteriously slips into the mud, sending his expensive new phone into the river.
• The Black Carp, eager to punish the intruders with more supernatural “slipping” accidents, waits for He Qinglan’s permission. He Qinglan restrains it, choosing a more measured response.
• He Qinglan tells the streamers they may film him only if they contribute by collecting and properly sorting one bag of trash per photograph. He implies that refusing may anger the River God.
• Although his calm warning briefly intimidates the group, the streamers largely dismiss it. One woman attempts to negotiate, proposing that she take a picture and promote him first, then perform only minimal cleanup afterward.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Remains detached, elegant, and uninterested in fame, but demonstrates fairness and authority. Rather than openly attacking the streamers, he establishes clear conditions that force them to contribute to the environmental work they are exploiting.
• Black Carp: Shows fierce loyalty and a mischievous eagerness to defend He Qinglan, wanting to punish the streamers through supernatural accidents. He obeys when He Qinglan tells him to stop.
• Shui Wuyuan: Though physically absent, his unusual message reveals a more provocative and possibly flirtatious side, generating intense public curiosity and speculation.
• The streamers: Are portrayed as opportunistic and entitled. They treat He Qinglan as content rather than a person and assume fame excuses their selfish behavior.

Significant Themes

• Exploitation of viral fame: He Qinglan’s popularity draws people who care more about views, money, and followers than about him or the environmental cause.
• Environmental responsibility: The chapter contrasts performative online activism with genuine labor. He Qinglan insists that anyone profiting from his work must actually help clean the river.
• Public perception and shipping culture: Netizens rapidly transform a cryptic interaction into romantic speculation, showing how easily online audiences invent narratives around public figures.
• Power beneath restraint: He Qinglan’s calmness and mercy conceal supernatural authority. His refusal to retaliate immediately makes his controlled warning more intimidating.

Character Interactions

• Online commenters reinterpret Shui Wuyuan’s message as a flirtatious challenge toward He Qinglan.
• Streamers repeatedly intrude on He Qinglan’s work, asking him to pose, greet viewers, and perform for their broadcasts.
• One streamer’s attempted physical familiarity ends in a humiliating fall, suggesting He Qinglan’s or the River God’s hidden influence.
• He Qinglan confronts the group indirectly, offering them a choice: help clean the river in exchange for access to him, or risk provoking the River God.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan, known as the “Immortal Pretty Boy,” confronts several livestreamers who demand payment or publicity in exchange for helping him collect trash from the polluted Qinglan River.
• He condemns their attitude, pointing out that humans depend on nature while also damaging it. He calls them “shameless” and orders them to move away because their behavior “dirty[ies]” his eyes.
• His harsh remarks provoke intense backlash from the streamers and their online audiences, who accuse him of being arrogant, scripted, and merely seeking fame. Some mock his reference to the River God, arguing that the dried-up river proves no such deity exists.
• Most of the streamers retreat, but two female streamers and one male streamer continue confronting He Qinglan and demand that he apologize.
• The heavily made-up, curly-haired female streamer slips on the muddy riverbank, falls face-first, ruins her phone in the mud and river, and suffers a badly scraped sense of dignity.
• The blond male streamer and the short-haired female streamer then slip in rapid succession. Both damage their phones, while the male streamer lands with his hands in the mud and the short-haired woman avoids a face-first fall.
• The bizarre chain of four consecutive accidents leaves everyone stunned. Online viewers begin speculating that the River God may have cursed the streamers for disrespecting the river and refusing to clean it.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Displays his contempt for vanity, pollution, and human arrogance. His aloof, severe personality becomes more apparent, and his comments suggest that he may possess supernatural authority or a direct connection to the River God.
• The streamers: Their entitlement and dependence on popularity are exposed. The most aggressive streamers become increasingly hostile when He Qinglan refuses to flatter or accommodate them, while more principled or cautious streamers withdraw.
• The livestream audiences: Initially support the streamers and ridicule He Qinglan, but the unexplained falls make some viewers question whether his warnings about the River God might be true.

Significant Themes

• Human exploitation of nature: He Qinglan emphasizes that people rely on the earth, mountains, rivers, and sky while contributing to their destruction.
• Entitlement and performative charity: The streamers treat environmental cleanup as a transaction and an opportunity for publicity rather than a responsibility.
• Beauty versus inner ugliness: He Qinglan’s hatred of “ugly souls” contrasts physical attractiveness and popularity with moral character.
• Supernatural justice: The streamers’ humiliating accidents imply that disrespect toward nature may provoke supernatural consequences.
• Public image and online culture: The livestreams amplify conflict, turning a moral disagreement into spectacle and encouraging both arrogance and mob-like outrage.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan directly challenges the streamers’ demands for payment and publicity.
• The streamers respond by insulting and confronting him, insisting that they should not be blamed for trash they did not personally create.
• The curly-haired woman demands an apology, but her fall interrupts the confrontation.
• The subsequent falls function as an apparent supernatural rebuttal to the streamers’ hostility.
• The livestream comments act as a parallel audience, first condemning He Qinglan and later entertaining the possibility that the River God has punished the offenders.

Chapter 9 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After four streamers consecutively fall into the river, many viewers interpret the incidents as punishment from the River God. Although some trolls remain skeptical, the strange accidents make people wary of provoking He Qinglan.
• Fans of the curly-haired female streamer post clips accusing He Qinglan of being arrogant, hypocritical, and verbally abusive. The controversy attracts even more online attention, with viewers waiting for him to be exposed or humiliated.
• With the other streamers and bystanders too frightened to approach him, He Qinglan continues cleaning the riverbank. His intense gaze pressures everyone nearby to pick up and properly sort trash.
• He Qinglan spends two full hours quietly cleaning another section of the riverbank. Apart from eating two soup dumplings and feeding the black carp, he makes no attempt to promote himself or reveal a hidden agenda. This causes viewers to question their assumptions about him.
• A powerful, imposing man suddenly appears in a streamer’s camera view. Viewers recognize him as Shui Wuyuan, a famous and intimidating figure associated with rain and water.
• Shui Wuyuan approaches He Qinglan, and the two immediately lock eyes. Rain begins falling over Bicheng despite a clear weather forecast, heightening the supernatural atmosphere.
• He Qinglan senses that Shui Wuyuan possesses a form of Sourcewater Power similar to his own, but derived from the sky and rain rather than rivers.
• Instead of reacting with his usual indifference, He Qinglan openly shows disdain and unmistakable jealousy toward Shui Wuyuan. Shui Wuyuan clearly notices and enjoys provoking this reaction.
• Contrary to viewers’ expectations that Shui Wuyuan will insult or confront He Qinglan, he smiles brightly and introduces himself: “That’s right, it’s me. I’m Shui Wuyuan.”

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: His actions gradually undermine the public’s suspicion that he is performing for attention. His continued, unrewarded environmental cleanup reveals genuine principles and patience. However, his usually restrained personality becomes noticeably expressive when Shui Wuyuan appears, exposing jealousy and rivalry.
• Shui Wuyuan: He is introduced as powerful, intimidating, and almost otherworldly, with rain seemingly following his arrival. Despite his fearsome reputation, he behaves playfully and confidently toward He Qinglan, deliberately enjoying the latter’s envy.
• The streamers and passersby: Initially opportunistic and interested in exploiting He Qinglan’s popularity, they become frightened and obedient after the supernatural falls and He Qinglan’s intimidating presence. They begin helping clean the river.
• Online viewers: Their skepticism shifts into fascination. They expect He Qinglan to be exposed as a fraud, but his sincere behavior leaves them confused, while Shui Wuyuan’s arrival turns the livestream into a dramatic supernatural spectacle.
• Black Carp: The author’s note clarifies that the four falls were not caused by the River God, but by the black carp’s own curse, emphasizing that even a minor supernatural being can overwhelm ordinary humans.

Significant Themes

• Environmental responsibility: The chapter criticizes people who need supernatural threats or public pressure to perform basic acts of environmental care.
• Appearance versus reality: He Qinglan is accused of pretending to be noble, but his persistent actions suggest that his environmentalism is sincere.
• Human weakness before supernatural power: The ordinary people nearby are reduced to helpless spectators in the presence of He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan.
• Power and rivalry: The meeting between river water and rainwater introduces a possible conflict—or connection—between two beings with related but distinct powers.
• Public spectacle and gossip: The livestream audience transforms supernatural events and personal tension into entertainment, constantly waiting for a scandal, confrontation, or “face-slapping” reversal.

Character Interactions

• The streamers and bystanders reluctantly clean the riverbank under He Qinglan’s silent, judgmental supervision.
• Online viewers collectively speculate about He Qinglan’s motives and anticipate Shui Wuyuan humiliating him.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan share an intense, almost confrontational first gaze accompanied by sudden rain.
• He Qinglan responds to Shui Wuyuan with visible disdain and jealousy, while Shui Wuyuan finds the reaction amusing and responds with an unexpectedly warm, dazzling smile rather than hostility.

Chapter 16 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shui Wuyuan, the Rain God, provocatively displays his restored water power before the nearly powerless River God, He Qinglan, expecting to gain the upper hand.
• He Qinglan retaliates by reminding Shui of their first battle, when he defeated the younger Rain God. Their exchange shocks the livestream audience, who had not expected their rivalry to have such a personal history.
• The chapter explains the origins of the world’s gods. Ancient “divine spirits” formed naturally from the Spiritual Power of rivers, mountains, seas, forests, fire, wind, and other aspects of nature. These spirits existed long before humanity’s faith-created deities.
• Divine birth depended on opportunity and cosmic timing, and gods had to adapt to changes in the world or eventually perish.
• The Rain God appeared much later than the oldest gods. As a young, arrogant deity, Shui believed he controlled all water and challenged the River God of the Qinglan River.
• He Qinglan defeated him decisively, leaving Shui humiliated. The memory of He Qinglan’s beauty and proud smile became deeply fixed in Shui’s mind.
• Determined to avenge himself, Shui trained for thousands of years. However, whenever he became stronger, He Qinglan had already grown even more powerful or had disappeared into seclusion.
• When Shui finally mastered absolute Sourcewater Power, he discovered that the older gods had withdrawn into seclusion. In frustration, he caused torrential rain that nearly destroyed early human civilization.
• Over the following millennia, humanity became dominant, while Spiritual Power steadily declined. Many ancient gods fell permanently as the world changed, though Shui never sensed He Qinglan’s death.
• After briefly glimpsing He Qinglan the previous night, Shui now finds him alive but severely weakened. Despite He’s poor condition, Shui still sees the same proud and beautiful figure from his memories.
• Shui turns the old rivalry into an openly suggestive challenge, asking whether He Qinglan wants to discover if he is still weak or “small.” The livestream chat erupts in excitement.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan/Rain God: His boastfulness and competitive pride conceal a long-standing fixation on He Qinglan. His desire for revenge has lasted thousands of years, but his memories reveal that humiliation gradually became admiration and attraction.
• He Qinglan/River God: He remains calm, arrogant, and teasing despite his depleted Spiritual Power. His casual references to defeating Shui reveal both their age difference and his former superiority.
• Their relationship: Their antagonism is rooted in an ancient battle but has developed into flirtatious tension. Shui still wants recognition from He Qinglan, while He Qinglan enjoys provoking him.
• Other ancient gods: The Fire, Wind, and Mountain Gods are mentioned as part of the older divine generation, who regarded Shui as too young and weak to include in their activities.

Significant Themes

• Change and survival: Gods, like all beings, must adapt to transformations in heaven and earth or disappear.
• Decline of nature and Spiritual Power: Human expansion, warfare, and environmental change have weakened the world’s spiritual foundation and caused ancient gods to die.
• Memory and enduring attachment: Shui’s humiliation from thousands of years ago remains vivid, but so does his fascination with He Qinglan’s beauty.
• Pride, rivalry, and attraction: The conflict between the two gods blends resentment, admiration, and flirtation.
• The contrast between immortality and vulnerability: Though the gods have existed for millennia, they can still weaken, fall, and be affected by the changing world.

Character Interactions

• Shui deliberately shows off his power to provoke He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan responds by throwing a bottle at him and mocking his childhood defeat.
• Shui defends himself by arguing that He Qinglan was older and only defeated him once.
• He Qinglan intensifies the teasing by saying Shui was too weak to be worth fighting more often.
• Shui ultimately converts the argument into a bold, flirtatious challenge, causing the livestream audience to react enthusiastically.

Chapter 10 Summary

Plot and events

Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan’s reunion becomes an instant internet sensation. Their heated exchange—especially Shui Wuyuan’s challenge about no longer being “weak or small”—leads to multiple trending topics, including Shui Wuyuan’s mysterious past, his unusual reaction to seeing He Qinglan, and his apparent connection to the so-called “Immortal Pretty Boy.” Online viewers speculate that the two knew each other as children and may be involved in a love-hate relationship rather than a simple revenge story.
Meanwhile, He Qinglan continues picking up litter after the earlier supernatural incidents, while Shui Wuyuan follows him closely without helping. When He Qinglan tells him to keep his distance, Shui stubbornly refuses. He then boasts about being Huazhou’s richest man and a powerful seafood, cruise, and real-estate tycoon, claiming that someone of his status should not bend down to pick up trash. The confrontation creates an increasingly tense atmosphere, and onlookers expect a physical fight to break out.

Character development

• He Qinglan/River God: Remains irritated, practical, and contemptuous of Shui Wuyuan’s arrogance. Although his divine power and origin are damaged, he privately intends to defeat Shui once he recovers. He reluctantly accepts Shui’s presence because an extra pair of hands could help with the cleanup, but Shui’s refusal only intensifies his annoyance.
• Shui Wuyuan: Reveals a playful, persistent, and seemingly affectionate attachment to He Qinglan. Despite his immense wealth and public status, he follows He Qinglan around like a nuisance, smiling even when insulted. His exaggerated pride appears partly genuine and partly designed to provoke a reaction. The narration and online speculation suggest he recognized He Qinglan long ago and may have been delighted by their reunion.
• The online audience and bystanders: Become increasingly invested in the pair’s relationship, shifting between expecting revenge, romance, or a dramatic fight. Their reactions amplify the public spectacle surrounding the two men.

Significant themes

• Past connections and hidden identities: The chapter emphasizes that He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan knew each other in childhood, though their names and identities have changed over time.
• Time, immortality, and reunion: Their long separation and altered appearances create confusion about who is older and highlight the effects of divine existence, faith, and the passage of millennia.
• Public image versus private behavior: Shui Wuyuan is portrayed publicly as an influential billionaire, yet privately behaves like an immature, clingy childhood rival. He Qinglan appears morally upright and concerned with the environment, but internally nurses plans for retaliation.
• Comedy through contrast: Shui’s immense status clashes with his childish behavior, while He Qinglan’s calm, austere demeanor contrasts with his suppressed anger.
• Spectacle and social media culture: Their personal conflict is immediately transformed into entertainment, with streamers and viewers interpreting every gesture and eagerly anticipating confrontation.

Character interactions

He Qinglan repeatedly tries to distance himself from Shui Wuyuan, but Shui refuses to leave and openly provokes him. He Qinglan orders him to help pick up trash, while Shui responds with an arrogant declaration of his wealth and importance. Their hostile banter is presented ambiguously: it can be read as the beginning of a fight, but the audience also recognizes an underlying familiarity and possible romantic tension. The chapter ends with everyone expecting the two to clash.

Chapter 11 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The watching streamers expect Shui Wuyuan to fail at picking up trash, hoping this will disprove the River God’s supposed curse and free them from having to participate.
• Instead, Shui Wuyuan effortlessly helps collect and organize trash while He Qinglan supervises. He even avoids mud and casually fends off an aggressive black carp without dirtying his shoes.
• Six streamers secretly abandon the trash they had collected. He Qinglan notices, but Shui Wuyuan confronts them first, condemning their dishonesty and ordering them to retrieve the discarded trash before leaving.
• Shui Wuyuan’s anger triggers a supernatural storm: the drizzle becomes a violent downpour and hailstorm, disabling the streamers’ phones and forcing everyone to flee. The livestream ends amid astonished and amused comments, including speculation that Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan’s relationship is romantic.
• After driving away the onlookers, Shui Wuyuan smugly claims he has created a peaceful environment for He Qinglan to work. He continues following and watching him despite He Qinglan’s irritation.
• By sunset, He Qinglan has cleared a football-field-sized stretch of riverbank. Shui Wuyuan occasionally uses water magic to wash especially dirty trash, prompting He Qinglan to question why such a wealthy man is not doing more actual work.
• Shui Wuyuan boasts that his wealth is so great that even the second-richest man could never surpass him. He Qinglan silently records another grievance against him.
• Shui Wuyuan then makes a phone call, while frightened screams erupt at the entrance of Bicheng College of Arts, setting up the next event.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan: Demonstrates his power, pride, ruthlessness toward dishonesty, and increasingly obvious attachment to He Qinglan. Although he presents himself as noble and above manual labor, he repeatedly stays by He Qinglan’s side and helps in indirect, showy ways.
• He Qinglan: Remains disciplined and committed to cleaning the riverbank, becoming more perceptive and assertive. He is increasingly exasperated by Shui Wuyuan’s arrogance and persistent presence but tolerates his assistance.
• The streamers: Their greed and laziness are exposed. Their attempt to escape the task ends in humiliation and supernatural punishment.
• The onlookers/netizens: Their perception shifts from skepticism about the curse to excitement over the apparent chemistry between Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan.

Significant Themes

• Consequences of dishonesty: The streamers’ refusal to honor their agreement leads directly to Shui Wuyuan’s punishment.
• Power and responsibility: Shui Wuyuan’s overwhelming supernatural power contrasts with his reluctance to perform ordinary labor, though he ultimately supports He Qinglan.
• Romantic tension and companionship: Shui Wuyuan’s insistence on remaining near He Qinglan, combined with his teasing and protective behavior, intensifies their implied romantic dynamic.
• Public spectacle versus genuine action: The streamers seek attention through livestreaming, while He Qinglan quietly performs meaningful environmental work.
• Pride and rivalry: Shui Wuyuan’s boasts about his wealth reveal his childish vanity and provoke He Qinglan’s continued annoyance.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan protects He Qinglan’s efforts by intimidating the dishonest streamers and clearing away the crowd.
• He Qinglan repeatedly tries to discourage Shui Wuyuan from hovering around him, but Shui Wuyuan deliberately returns to his side.
• The two bicker over labor and wealth, with He Qinglan criticizing Shui Wuyuan’s laziness and Shui Wuyuan responding with smug confidence.
• Their hostile banter masks growing familiarity and mutual attention, which the livestream audience interprets as romantic affection.

Chapter 19 Summary

Key plot points and events

A speeding electric sedan suffers a tire blowout and crashes into Qi Xiaoyuan’s pancake stall, crushing it against a tree. Qi is trapped inside, and onlookers initially fear he has suffered fatal injuries. However, after the stall and car are pulled apart, he is found to have only minor injuries: bruising around his waist and abdomen, a head bump, and a scraped back. The driver is more seriously hurt after mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake, and investigators discover he was driving without a license. The gas cylinder beneath the stall is also forced free during the collision, narrowly preventing an explosion.

Qi Xiaoyuan’s development

Although everyone attributes his survival to extraordinary luck, Qi realizes that something supernatural protected him. During the crash, a cool, soft, water-like force caught him when he stumbled, prevented the griddle from striking him, displaced the gas cylinder, and absorbed the force of his impact against the tree. These experiences remind him of the Qinglan River God—an enigmatic young man he previously encountered carrying a black carp—and of the promise that “the River God will bless you.” Qi begins to suspect that the River God deliberately saved his life.

Character interactions

Qi’s friends and nearby bystanders rescue him, examine his injuries, and enthusiastically praise his incredible fortune, even urging him to buy a lottery ticket. They comfort him and encourage him to let the doctor examine him. Police and medical personnel investigate the accident, while Qi answers questions and learns he may need to return later regarding compensation. Afterward, he declines his friends’ invitation to eat and asks to be left alone so he can think.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes fate, divine protection, and the contrast between apparent luck and hidden supernatural intervention. It also deepens the mystery surrounding the River God and suggests that Qi’s connection with him is becoming active and protective. The final note reveals that at least one person present does not accept the accident as mere good fortune, hinting that others may also recognize the River God’s influence.

Chapter 12 Summary

Key plot points and events

After surviving a seemingly fatal car accident during the agent showdown, Qi Xiaoyuan receives soup dumplings and hot milk from Old Master Song, who gently encourages him to calm himself and pay respects to the River God by helping clean the riverbank. Qi Xiaoyuan suspects Old Master Song is referring to He Qinglan and the River God’s promise to protect him.
At the river, Qi Xiaoyuan finds He Qinglan picking up trash and silently joins him. His arrival coincides with a faint surge of pure Faith Power, suggesting that his gratitude or belief may be strengthening the River God. Shui Wuyuan, observing from nearby, reacts jealously and summons a tiny rain cloud over Qi Xiaoyuan’s head. The cloud follows and drenches him for five minutes until He Qinglan disperses it with Spiritual Power.
When Qi Xiaoyuan asks whether the rain was a divine trial, He Qinglan denies it, calling it a coincidence. Qi Xiaoyuan then explains that he survived a crash that should have killed him and felt a water-like force protecting him. He has come to the river to investigate and express his gratitude.

Character developments

• Qi Xiaoyuan moves from shock and confusion toward actively seeking an explanation for his survival. Though uncertain, he is increasingly willing to believe in the supernatural and the River God’s protection. His act of cleaning the river may also demonstrate growing faith.
• He Qinglan remains calm and unreadable, responding to Qi Xiaoyuan’s revelation without surprise. His brief smile suggests he understands more than he admits and may confirm that Qi Xiaoyuan’s experience was connected to divine power.
• Shui Wuyuan displays a childish, spiteful side by targeting Qi Xiaoyuan with rain, apparently out of jealousy or resentment. However, he restrains himself when He Qinglan disapproves, revealing both fear of Qinglan and an underlying sense of fairness.
• Old Master Song acts as a compassionate mentor, comforting Qi Xiaoyuan and subtly guiding him toward the river without openly revealing the truth.

Significant themes

• Faith and divine power: Qi Xiaoyuan’s gratitude appears to generate Faith Power, linking human belief with the strength of gods.
• Protection and repayment: After being saved, Qi Xiaoyuan seeks to repay the River God through respect and practical action.
• Hidden identities and supernatural awareness: Ordinary people remain largely unaware of the gods around them, while Qi Xiaoyuan begins to perceive their influence.
• Comedy amid danger: The serious aftermath of a near-fatal accident is undercut by Shui Wuyuan’s petty rain curse and his rivalry with He Qinglan.

Character interactions

Old Master Song comforts Qi Xiaoyuan and directs him toward the river. Qi Xiaoyuan and He Qinglan clean the riverbank together, while Shui Wuyuan watches and mischievously torments Qi Xiaoyuan. He Qinglan ultimately stops Shui Wuyuan’s prank and calmly questions Qi Xiaoyuan, who openly describes the water-like force that saved his life.