Chapter Summaries

Chapter 42 Summary

• Shui Wuyuan explains to He Qinglan that Big Gou—Gou Tianze—has likely discovered the black mayflies are connected to pollution and accumulated resentment. However, simply finding the insects will not solve the crisis; unless the environmental filth and negative emotions are cleansed, many people may die.
• He Qinglan reflects on humanity’s contradictory relationship with gods and nature. Humans are fragile, yet they attempt both to control divine beings and protect them.
• To reassure worried netizens, He Qinglan posts photos of the cleaner section of the Qinglan River, its surrounding vegetation, and the black carp guarding a black bead. He writes that nature is not inherently cruel and that treating nature kindly will bring kindness in return.
• The post strongly affects the public. Despite seeing images of polluted sections of the river elsewhere, netizens perceive hope and renewal in He Qinglan’s photographs. Many are inspired to sort trash, clean their neighborhoods, and help protect the environment. The slogan “I Treat Nature Kindly, Nature Treats Me Kindly Too” trends again.
• Shui Wuyuan notices Gou Tianze approaching and teasingly calls him “Big Gou.” Gou Tianze, already exhausted after fourteen hours without rest, arrives in his police uniform and even picks up garbage along the way. His action triggers the familiar raincloud associated with He Qinglan’s divine influence, leaving him drenched.
• Gou Tianze introduces himself as captain of the city criminal investigation unit and directly asks He Qinglan whether he can deal with the deadly black mayflies. Though he doubts his own assumption, Gou senses that He Qinglan knows more than he admits and urgently asks for help to protect Bicheng.
• He Qinglan initially refuses, modestly claiming he is only a garbage picker and suggesting that Gou consult professional virus, biology, and insect experts—or Shui Wuyuan, whose wealth might solve the problem.
• Gou Tianze refuses to let him evade the issue. He reveals that he investigated He Qinglan and found no official records of him anywhere in Bicheng—or even in the national household-registration system—suggesting that He Qinglan’s identity is supernatural or otherwise impossible to verify.

Character Development and Interactions

• He Qinglan demonstrates compassion and strategic influence by using social media to encourage environmental action, while continuing to conceal the extent of his powers and knowledge.
• Shui Wuyuan remains protective, sarcastic, and possessive toward He Qinglan. He observes He Qinglan’s choices closely and mocks Gou Tianze, while his rain-related divine power unintentionally—or deliberately—makes Gou’s approach miserable.
• Gou Tianze is shown as exhausted but determined. His willingness to pick up trash and personally seek He Qinglan’s aid reveals both humility and a strong sense of responsibility. His investigation also makes him the first official figure to openly challenge He Qinglan’s false or incomplete identity.
• The confrontation between Gou and He Qinglan shifts the situation from indirect observation to direct interrogation, raising the stakes around He Qinglan’s origins and possible role in stopping the mayfly disaster.

Significant Themes

• Humanity’s relationship with nature: The chapter emphasizes that environmental destruction and supernatural calamity are linked.
• Hope arising from decay: The clean river section symbolizes recovery and the possibility of renewal despite widespread pollution.
• Collective action: He Qinglan’s message inspires ordinary people to take practical environmental responsibility.
• Divinity and human vulnerability: Humans may be physically weak, but their ambition, faith, and willingness to protect others give them considerable influence.
• Identity and secrecy: Gou Tianze’s discovery that He Qinglan has no official existence exposes the mystery surrounding him and foreshadows further revelations.

Chapter Summary

Gou Tianze confronts He Qinglan with evidence linking him to a series of strange events. He points out that after He Qinglan arrived in Bicheng, people who treated him kindly—such as Qi Xiaoyuan and Xia Youyu—received unexpected help, while those who committed wrongdoing suffered bizarre punishments. He also notes He Qinglan’s apparent supernatural abilities, comparing him to Shui Wuyuan, and begs him to save Bicheng’s people from the spreading crisis.
He Qinglan challenges Gou Tianze’s belief that all the endangered humans are innocent. He directs attention to the polluted river, whose aquatic creatures have lost their habitat and face extinction because of human actions. When Gou Tianze dismisses them as merely “flowers, birds, insects, and fish,” Shui Wuyuan sharply mocks the idea that humans are inherently superior and entitled to destroy other life. Gou Tianze is forced to reconsider humanity’s relationship with nature. He realizes that He Qinglan views all life as equal and may not prioritize human survival, making the solution to Bicheng’s crisis difficult even though He Qinglan seems to possess the key.
Rather than abandoning the matter, Gou Tianze returns daily with others to clean and restore the river. Police officers, environmental experts, urban management workers, Liu Dalong and his gang, recovering patients, and ordinary Bicheng residents all participate. They collect trash, treat sewage, remove weeds, and clear the river channel with genuine dedication. Their efforts show a developing sense of responsibility and a willingness to make amends for the damage humans have caused.
The chapter emphasizes environmental degradation, humanity’s moral responsibility toward nonhuman life, the consequences of good and evil, and the possibility of redemption through collective action. It also deepens the contrast between Gou Tianze’s human-centered concern and He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan’s broader, more impartial view of life. Their interactions force Gou Tianze—and by extension the people of Bicheng—to recognize that protecting humanity may require first acknowledging the value of the natural world.

Chapter 43 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan observe children and residents cleaning the polluted Qinglan River. A mother encourages her son by telling him that improving the environment will help cure his father’s illness.
• As night falls, black mayflies emerge from the river’s pollution and threaten the people cleaning it. He Qinglan uses mist to protect them and urges the creatures not to sacrifice themselves or be manipulated into destroying humanity.
• The Bicheng Government issues sewage-treatment guidelines and a reconstruction plan. The Qi Family and other wealthy lineages make major donations, inspiring a citywide environmental campaign.
• Over the next half month, residents clean the riverbanks and restore the Qinglan River. During this period, very few volunteers are attacked, and nearly all of the hundreds of victims infected by the black bugs survive, though they remain unconscious.
• On August 2, the people of Bicheng share a dream of a magnificent River God rising from a clear river and splashing them with water. Rain falls across the city that same night, and most unconscious victims awaken.
• The He Clan’s eldest young master and his unconscious younger sister are notable exceptions.
• In a mysterious hidden realm, unseen figures conclude that the attempt has failed and decide to replace the River God, foreshadowing a new threat connected to fire.
• The awakened victims all claim they dreamed of the Qinglan River God. Their accounts cause intense online debate, with outsiders dismissing the event as superstition or publicity while Bicheng residents defend their experience.
• The residents’ belief in the River God encourages lasting environmental habits: they continue visiting the river, discouraging littering, and cleaning up waste.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan shows compassion and moral restraint. Although he has power over the black mayflies, he refuses to let them destroy themselves or punish humanity indiscriminately, recognizing that innocent people would suffer.
• Shui Wuyuan remains skeptical and sarcastic, questioning whether the emotional environmental campaign is staged and later reacting negatively to the idea of the incoming “fire” entity.
• The Bicheng residents transform from passive observers into active protectors of the river. Their collective efforts demonstrate growing civic responsibility and faith in the Qinglan River.
• The River God becomes a symbolic and possibly literal protector of Bicheng, healing the unconscious victims through the shared dream and rain.
• The hidden antagonistic forces reveal that they are willing to replace the River God when their plan fails, suggesting escalating supernatural conflict.

Significant Themes

• Environmental responsibility: The chapter presents river conservation as a duty shared by all humanity, not merely a government task.
• Compassion and moral judgment: He Qinglan rejects indiscriminate revenge, emphasizing that innocent people should not be punished for humanity’s broader wrongdoing.
• Collective belief and communal action: The city’s shared dream strengthens the residents’ emotional connection to the river and motivates them to continue protecting it.
• The relationship between nature and humanity: The River God’s intervention suggests that healing the environment may also heal the people who depend on it.
• Faith versus skepticism: The River God’s existence is debated online, reflecting tension between supernatural belief, rational explanations, and personal experience.
• Foreshadowing and balance: The cryptic warning about fire signals that the restoration of the river may be followed by a new elemental or supernatural crisis.

Character Interactions

• A mother encourages her son to collect trash by linking environmental improvement to his father’s recovery, illustrating how adults pass ecological values to children.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan observe the cleanup effort together, with Shui Wuyuan’s skepticism contrasting with He Qinglan’s quiet concern.
• He Qinglan communicates with the black mayflies, asking them not to be exploited or sacrifice themselves.
• The Government, wealthy lineages—especially the Qi Family—and ordinary citizens cooperate to restore the river.
• After the shared dream, Bicheng residents collectively affirm their experience while arguing with skeptical internet users from outside the city.
• The community’s continued monitoring of one another and shared refusal to litter shows how supernatural belief becomes a practical form of social cooperation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bicheng’s residents become diligent about environmental protection, clearing the Qinglan River of trash. The paper mill responsible for much of the pollution is shut down, and the river begins recovering, with fish, shrimp, and plankton returning.
• The Bicheng government sends investigators upstream to determine why the river remains narrow and partially dried up, hoping to restore its former abundance and ecological vitality.
• With no trash left to collect, the River God becomes bored and changes his routine from cleaning the river to fishing. His improvised fishing setup—and the Black Carp repeatedly biting the line—becomes a popular online image.
• Fans praise the beauty and peacefulness of the River God’s fishing photograph, while Shui Wuyuan admires it privately and affectionately calls him “Salted Fish Lanlan.”
• Wushan Guardian invites the River God to climb Flame Mountain, located upstream from the Qinglan River. Lanlan accepts, revealing that he had already been considering going there.
• Shui Wuyuan reacts jealously and publicly tries to divert Lanlan to the sea. This leads to an online argument with Wushan Guardian, who accuses him of trying to steal Lanlan away.
• The two men escalate their rivalry into a public challenge to fight over Lanlan. Their fans and online spectators eagerly await the supposed romantic showdown.
• After more than half an hour, the awaited post comes—not from either challenger, but from Lanlan, whose deliberately false statement is teased at the chapter’s end.

Character Developments

• The River God/Lanlan: Having successfully helped restore the Qinglan River, he shifts from active environmental work to relaxed fishing. His willingness to travel to Flame Mountain suggests curiosity about the river’s upstream origins and a desire to investigate personally.
• Shui Wuyuan: His affection for Lanlan becomes increasingly obvious. He moves from quiet admiration to open jealousy and impulsive competition when Wushan Guardian invites Lanlan away.
• Wushan Guardian: He treats Lanlan as a close friend and confidently asserts his prior relationship with him. His playful but aggressive rivalry with Shui Wuyuan reveals his possessiveness and strong attachment.
• Black Carp: Now returned to the river, it symbolizes the ecosystem’s recovery and continues its comic connection with Lanlan by eagerly “biting” his fishing line.
• Bicheng residents and government: Their environmental responsibility produces visible ecological improvement and supports the broader restoration effort.

Significant Themes

• Environmental restoration: Community action, government intervention, and industrial shutdown allow the river to recover naturally.
• Harmony between humans and nature: The restored river becomes a source of joy, recreation, and renewed life rather than pollution and neglect.
• Idleness and contentment: Lanlan’s transition from laboring to simply fishing emphasizes the peace that comes after a task is completed.
• Affection and jealousy: Shui Wuyuan and Wushan Guardian’s rivalry humorously exposes their competing feelings for Lanlan.
• Public spectacle and online culture: A private emotional conflict becomes entertainment for the entire internet, with fans treating the dispute like a dramatic romantic competition.

Character Interactions

• Lanlan’s peaceful fishing scene contrasts with Shui Wuyuan’s tender reaction to his photograph.
• Shui Wuyuan and Wushan Guardian exchange increasingly hostile but theatrical posts over who gets to spend time with Lanlan.
• Lanlan remains largely detached from the rivalry, casually accepting Wushan Guardian’s invitation and becoming the unwitting center of the online spectacle.

Chapter 44 Summary

Plot and events

Mountain Shaman, Shui Wuyuan, and He Qinglan travel together to Flaming Mountain in Sichuan, intending to visit the sea afterward. Flaming Mountain is described as a largely barren, red-stone mountain whose appearance resembles flames. Local legends claim that heavenly fire once burned through the mountain, turning its forests to ash and its soil red. Because of this history, nearby villagers traditionally worship the Fire God and, due to their mountain-based lives, the Mountain God as well.
Mountain Shaman begins one of his regular mountain-patrol livestreams, using it to educate viewers about the mountain’s geology, plants, animals, and ecosystem. The stream attracts unusually high numbers of viewers because Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan are accompanying him. As they climb, viewers debate whether the two newcomers can handle the difficult wilderness terrain and worry about the loss of signal in the remote mountains.

Character developments

Mountain Shaman continues to demonstrate his deep dedication to nature conservation. His livestreams are presented as a public service rather than a way to gain fame or money, and humans regard him as an expert in survival, botany, zoology, and geology. Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan are both revealed to possess impressive physical abilities despite their appearances: Shui Wuyuan has a reputation for extraordinary combat strength, while He Qinglan is rumored to know martial arts and have immense natural strength.

Character interactions

Although the three have agreed to travel as “merely friends and acquaintances,” Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan continue their childish rivalry. Mountain Shaman mocks the Rain God for having few regular worshippers, while Shui Wuyuan retorts that even universal worship would not make Mountain Shaman stronger than him. Their argument reflects their ongoing competition over He Qinglan, who silently finds their behavior immature. He Qinglan also serves as the more observant, exasperated presence between the two quarrelsome ancient deities.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes humanity’s reverence for nature through the legends and religious customs surrounding Flaming Mountain. It also highlights the contrast between genuine environmental stewardship and personal rivalry: Mountain Shaman protects and educates others about the mountains, while his immortal power and age do not prevent him from behaving like a petty child. The livestream further connects ancient divine beings with modern technology and public opinion, showing how their identities and relationships are interpreted by internet users.

Chapter 86 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Boss Water, Shui Wuyuan, responds mockingly to viewers by displaying his satellite communications phone, which maintains a signal anywhere satellites remain operational. His wealth guarantees that Mountain Shaman’s livestream will not be interrupted.
• Mountain Shaman, holding his ordinary rugged phone, becomes the target of playful teasing from the audience. The viewers celebrate the promise of a complete livestream from the remote Flaming Mountain.
• Before beginning the tour, Mountain Shaman gives a serious wilderness-safety announcement. He warns against entering remote mountains without adequate training, preparation, or survival skills, citing flash floods, extreme weather, insects, and wild animals.
• He then explains Flaming Mountain’s geology. Its red stones were likely scorched by ancient volcanic activity, and the mountain was probably an active volcano thousands—or tens of thousands—of years ago, though it has been mostly dormant for roughly a millennium.
• While listening, He Qinglan reflects on the mountain’s deeper significance: it was likely the resting place chosen by the Fire God during the gods’ ancient slumber.
• He recalls the sleeping places of the other gods: He Qinglan chose the source of rivers, Fire God chose Flaming Mountain, Wind God intended to sleep wherever the winds carried him, and Thunder God’s location remains uncertain.
• He Qinglan questions Shui Wuyuan about his apparent connection to Thunder God and his ability to summon lightning during rain. Shui denies being close to Thunder God, claiming they merely fought frequently.
• Shui’s inner thoughts reveal that the two had actually become “troublesome friends,” regularly sparring and complaining together about other gods. Shui also admits privately that he had tried to learn more about another god through Thunder God.
• He Qinglan asks whether Shui knows Thunder God’s resting place. Shui vehemently denies it, though his thoughts suggest resentment that Thunder God disappeared without saying goodbye and left only a bolt of lightning behind.
• The chapter concludes with He Qinglan reflecting that Wind and Thunder remain difficult to destroy as long as wind and rain continue to exist in the mortal world.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan/Boss Water: Displays his immense wealth and arrogant humor through the satellite phone. His defensive denials reveal a concealed emotional attachment to Thunder God, whom he considers a close but troublesome friend. He also shows jealousy and hurt over Thunder God’s disappearance.
• Mountain Shaman: Continues acting as a responsible livestreamer by balancing entertainment with practical safety advice. His enthusiasm for explaining Flaming Mountain contrasts with his rugged, understated image.
• He Qinglan: Demonstrates increasing suspicion and perceptiveness regarding Shui’s relationship with Thunder God. His reflections reveal his extensive knowledge of the ancient gods and the tragic changes that have affected the natural world.
• Thunder God: Though absent, he is developed through others’ memories. He appears powerful, combative, independent, and emotionally distant, but also capable of forming lasting bonds.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and poverty: Shui’s satellite phone provides comic contrast with Mountain Shaman’s cheap, durable device, while the audience jokingly celebrates and envies Shui’s wealth.
• Respect for nature and personal responsibility: Mountain Shaman emphasizes that appreciating wilderness must be accompanied by preparation and restraint.
• Ancient divinity in the modern world: The mountain tour connects ordinary geology and livestream culture with the hidden history of sleeping gods.
• Loss of balance: He Qinglan reflects that true peace and natural harmony have been destroyed, suggesting the gods’ awakening is linked to humanity’s disruption of nature.
• Friendship hidden beneath conflict: Shui and Thunder God’s relationship shows that rivalry and frequent fighting can conceal loyalty, companionship, and mutual attachment.
• Endurance and immortality: Wind and Thunder’s continued existence through natural phenomena suggests that the gods remain embedded in the world itself.

Character Interactions

• Shui mocks Mountain Shaman’s phone, while Mountain Shaman silently endures the insult and the viewers enthusiastically side with Shui.
• Mountain Shaman addresses the audience directly, shifting from comedy to a serious warning about wilderness dangers.
• He Qinglan observes Shui closely and interrogates him about Thunder God. Shui maintains a confident façade but internally reveals far more emotion than he admits.
• Their exchange combines suspicion, teasing, and concealed history, reinforcing the complicated relationships among the ancient gods.

Chapter 87 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Mountain Shaman travel deep into Flaming Mountain in search of the mysterious object connected to the Fire God and the “Undying Crimson Point.”
• After leaving the developed main peak, they enter a hotter, more remote region where the mountain’s paths become indistinct and the terrain feels as though fire burns beneath the ground.
• Despite Mountain Shaman’s complaints about the heat, He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan remain calm and tireless, disproving the public’s assumption that they are physically weak or pampered.
• The group stops at a mountain stream, where Mountain Shaman prepares water and Shui Wuyuan searches his backpack for food.
• Five strangers emerge from the woods: three men and two women. They claim to be hiking enthusiasts exploring the undeveloped mountain, but He Qinglan and the others immediately recognize that their explanation is false.
• Choosing not to interfere as long as the strangers remain harmless, the trio settles by the stream.
• While playing with the water, He Qinglan uncovers a warm, irregular red gemstone beneath the sand. The five strangers react with intense interest, suggesting that the stone may be the object they were searching for.
• Mountain Shaman’s livestream captures the discovery, causing viewers to excitedly mistake the stone for a ruby.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Demonstrates strong physical endurance and heightened perception. He notices the strangers’ deception but remains unconcerned, and he innocently discovers the potentially significant red stone while viewing it merely as a beautiful pebble.
• Shui Wuyuan: Displays sharp vigilance and an intimidating presence, immediately ordering the hidden people to reveal themselves. He remains composed and dismissive of the gemstone, apparently recognizing—or at least suspecting—that it is more important than He Qinglan realizes.
• Mountain Shaman: Acts as the practical member of the group, monitoring the livestream, managing the encounter, and preparing drinking water. His exaggerated comments about the heat contrast humorously with his lack of visible discomfort.
• The Five Strangers: Their nervous behavior and false cover story reveal that they have a hidden objective in Flaming Mountain, likely connected to the red gemstone.

Significant Themes

• Hidden identities and concealed motives: The strangers pretend to be hikers, while the protagonists immediately see through their lies.
• Appearance versus reality: The supposedly delicate He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan prove physically capable, while the “ordinary” red stone may conceal extraordinary importance.
• Innocence and detachment: He Qinglan’s casual delight in the gemstone contrasts with the intense interest it provokes in everyone else.
• Discovery and destiny: The stone’s warmth, color, and possible link to the Undying Crimson Point suggest that He Qinglan may have accidentally found a crucial supernatural object.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan’s cold warning forces the five hidden figures to reveal themselves.
• The strangers offer an insincere explanation, but He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and Mountain Shaman silently acknowledge the deception without confronting them.
• He Qinglan’s playful interaction with the stream draws the strangers’ attention and unintentionally exposes the gemstone.
• The livestream audience provides comic commentary, celebrating He Qinglan’s apparent “ruby” discovery while remaining unaware of its possible deeper significance.

Chapter 45 Summary

Key plot points and events

He Qinglan examines the red gemstone he found in the creek and notices that, unlike an ordinary river stone, it is faintly warm. Nearby, four young backpackers—Zhao Kuan, Wang Hu, Zhou Yuan, and Lin Tongtong—reveal that they came to Flaming Mountain after hearing hidden-web rumors about valuable “Flame Gems,” or warm rubies. They claim each stone can sell for around 500,000, while an unusually hot forty-degree gem recently sold for 800,000. The stones may contain mysterious energy, making them potentially even more valuable in the future. Excited by the prospect of sudden wealth, the group decides to search the creek while preparing lunch rather than immediately entering the dangerous deep mountains. Lin Tongtong admits she has felt uneasy since arriving, sensing that danger may be nearby.

Character developments

He Qinglan becomes intrigued by the gemstone, feeling an unusual attachment to it and recognizing that its warmth may indicate it is a Flame Gem. Zhao Kuan establishes himself as the group’s informed and cautious leader: although motivated by wealth, he emphasizes that survival comes first. Wang Hu, Zhou Yuan, and Lin Tongtong become increasingly enthusiastic about finding riches. Lin Tongtong’s persistent unease hints at an instinctive awareness of the danger surrounding Flaming Mountain.

Significant themes

The chapter highlights greed and opportunity, as ordinary travelers are tempted by rumors of enormous profits. It also contrasts wealth-seeking with caution and survival, since the mountains may contain dangers greater than the value of the gemstones. The ruby’s unexplained warmth introduces the theme of mystery and supernatural or unknown energy, suggesting that the Flame Gems have significance beyond their monetary worth.

Character interactions

The backpackers excitedly discuss the ruby, the hidden-web market, and their plans to become wealthy. Their conversation attracts the attention of He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, Mountain Shaman, and a nearby villager. Zhao Kuan reassures and motivates his childhood friends, while Wang Hu praises his loyalty. Lin Tongtong expresses trust in Zhao Kuan’s judgment but also voices her fear of entering the mountains.

Chapter 46 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The four young explorers—Zhao Kuan, Lin Tongtong, and their companions—relax by a creek after deciding they can safely continue their search for Flame Gems. They joke about avoiding the fate of doomed groups in supernatural adventure stories.
• They realize that He Qinglan, along with Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan, may know something about the mysterious red stones. Zhao Kuan considers warning He Qinglan about the possible Flame Gem but decides not to reveal their own secret. He plans only to advise He Qinglan not to sell the ruby too quickly.
• Unknown to the four young people, their conversation is overheard by everyone nearby, including the seemingly simple mountain villager. The villager immediately connects the Flame Gem rumors to recent visitors and to the old hunter’s sudden wealth.
• The mountain villager’s greedy reaction is noticed by He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan. Shui Wuyuan condemns greed as the beginning of evil.
• He Qinglan studies the ruby and wonders whether his friend Chiyan might have sealed himself inside a stone, suggesting the gem may have a supernatural connection to him.
• Acting on this suspicion, He Qinglan enters the creek to search for more red stones. Shui Wuyuan follows him, pretending to be interested in playing in the water and finding stones.
• He Qinglan discovers an astonishing number of red gemstones, finding one roughly every few steps. He gathers more than twenty stones and displays them on the riverbank.
• The four young people, the mountain villager, and the livestream audience are stunned by He Qinglan’s extraordinary luck. Once he comes ashore, the young explorers rush into the creek to search the same area.

Character Developments

• Zhao Kuan is shown to be cautious and responsible rather than reckless. He weighs the risks of sharing information and chooses secrecy to avoid unnecessary trouble.
• Lin Tongtong remains anxious and superstitious but is reassured by Zhao Kuan’s careful planning.
• He Qinglan demonstrates decisive action and unusual intuition. His suspicion about the ruby leads him directly to a large cache of red stones.
• Shui Wuyuan displays his usual blunt, childish competitiveness by following He Qinglan into the creek, while also revealing a moral disdain for greed.
• The mountain villager shifts from seeming harmless and simple to appearing observant and potentially dangerous. His discovery of the Flame Gem’s importance awakens his greed.
• The four young explorers’ confidence is shaken when He Qinglan effortlessly succeeds where they have struggled.

Significant Themes

• Greed and temptation: The Flame Gems attract outsiders, enrich villagers, and awaken dangerous desires. Shui Wuyuan explicitly identifies greed as the source of evil.
• Secrecy and trust: The young explorers hide their purpose, while He Qinglan and the others unintentionally expose their own interests. The chapter emphasizes the risks of information falling into the wrong hands.
• Luck versus ability: He Qinglan’s effortless discovery of numerous gems contrasts with the group’s painstaking search, making his success seem almost supernatural.
• Supernatural mystery: The possibility that Chiyan is connected to, or sealed within, the Flame Gem deepens the chapter’s central mystery.
• Appearance versus reality: The mountain villager looks simple and sturdy but possesses sharp hearing and dangerous awareness; He Qinglan appears to be casually playing in the water while secretly investigating the gem’s origins.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Kuan and Lin Tongtong tease each other while discussing their fears, reinforcing the group’s camaraderie.
• Zhao Kuan internally debates whether to share information with He Qinglan, showing the cautious distance between the two groups.
• Shui Wuyuan challenges He Qinglan’s decision to enter the creek, leading to a playful, childish exchange before following him.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan’s search becomes a spectacle for the four young explorers and the livestream viewers, who react with amazement to their beauty and luck.
• The mountain villager silently listens to the young group, interprets their conversation, and begins viewing the Flame Gems as an opportunity for wealth and possibly exploitation.

Chapter 90 Summary

Plot and events

The four young people assume He Qinglan missed many of the translucent red stones while casually collecting them from the stream. They search the area thoroughly, even digging through the mud, but find nothing. Their disappointment worsens when they return to shore and see He Qinglan drying dozens of red gems he has already gathered.

Character interactions and developments

Zhou Yuan approaches He Qinglan and pretends to admire the stones, asking him to sell her one for less than five hundred yuan. Although she claims to genuinely like them, her greed is obvious to He Qinglan. He refuses bluntly, surprising and embarrassing her. When she angrily argues that the stones are cheap and that he has found them for free, He Qinglan calmly warns her that they are treasures beyond ordinary wealth.
Lin Tongtong recognizes the situation becoming hostile and apologizes on Zhou Yuan’s behalf. She offers He Qinglan a box of fruit as compensation, but he dismisses the gesture and tells them to leave. He then offers to give them a warning because they are “fairly good-looking,” leaving the chapter on a note of impending advice or revelation.

Underlying significance

The red stones are revealed to contain traces of Chiyan’s Fire-Source Power. Though the amount is small, He Qinglan values them because they may help preserve or restore his friend Chiyan’s life if necessary. This explains his refusal to sell or give them away and highlights his loyalty and concern for the Fire God.

Themes

The chapter contrasts human greed and superficial valuation with true spiritual value. The young people see the gems as inexpensive ornaments, while He Qinglan understands their hidden power and importance. It also emphasizes He Qinglan’s perceptiveness, emotional detachment, and protective loyalty toward his divine friend.

Chapter 91 Summary

• He Qinglan’s warning: Sitting by the river, He Qinglan cautions Lin Tongtong and Zhou Yuan that unexpected wealth can be dangerous, comparing it to a “pie” that might crush the person beneath it. Lin Tongtong realizes he may know the true value and danger of the Flame Gems, while Zhou Yuan interprets the warning as an insult and becomes more determined to find one.
• The group debates whether to continue: Lin Tongtong tells Zhao Kuan and Wang Hu that He Qinglan likely understands the Flame Gems and may have come to Flaming Mountain specifically to obtain them. She urges everyone to leave while they can, believing the expedition has become too dangerous. However, Zhou Yuan insists that the gems are ownerless and that they have just as much right to search for them. Zhao Kuan and Wang Hu also feel reluctant to abandon the journey after coming so far.
• Lin Tongtong chooses safety: Lin Tongtong compares their argument to a group of people splitting up before entering a deadly situation. She emphasizes that they already have stable lives and should not risk everything for sudden wealth. When the others refuse to return, she decides to go back alone, promising to prepare a feast when they eventually return safely.
• Wang Hu follows Lin Tongtong: Zhou Yuan reacts angrily to Lin Tongtong’s departure, but Wang Hu shows concern for her safety. He gives his food and protective supplies to Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan, whispers additional instructions to Zhao Kuan, and follows Lin Tongtong back down the mountain. His choice demonstrates loyalty and responsibility over greed.
• Zhao Kuan becomes wary: Left with Zhou Yuan, Zhao Kuan notices that the mountain guides seem more threatening now that their group has been reduced. He decides that he and Zhou Yuan should travel alongside He Qinglan’s group for protection. Zhou Yuan dislikes the idea, seeing it as humiliating, but Zhao Kuan insists that staying with others is safer.

Character development and themes

• Lin Tongtong emerges as cautious, perceptive, and willing to stand alone for her principles.
• Zhou Yuan becomes increasingly consumed by greed, pride, and resentment after being refused a Flame Gem.
• Wang Hu proves himself loyal and protective by escorting Lin Tongtong.
• Zhao Kuan shifts from confidence in the expedition to suspicion and practical caution.
• The chapter emphasizes the dangers of greed, the uncertain cost of sudden fortune, the importance of recognizing hidden threats, and the tension between friendship and differing values.

Chapter 47 Summary

• Journey and Flame Gems: The mountain man joins Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan, leading them along the same route taken by Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and Mountain Shaman’s group. By nightfall, all six travelers camp in the mountain forest. He Qinglan’s group appears unnaturally lucky, repeatedly discovering Flame Gems in places ranging from rock cracks to buried soil. By following their trail, Zhou Yuan manages to find two gems himself, though Zhao Kuan suspects something is unusual and keeps silent. He estimates that He Qinglan’s group has collected roughly fifty gems, worth about twenty-five million at minimum.
• Zhao Kuan’s unease: The enormous value of the gems causes Zhao Kuan to feel sudden, inexplicable fear. He becomes uneasy about the mountain, the gems, and the unnaturally dark night, foreshadowing that something sinister may be happening.
• The mountain man’s hidden reaction: While appearing honest and harmless, the mountain man privately takes great delight in the fortune represented by the Flame Gems. His greed contrasts sharply with his friendly outward behavior, suggesting he may have ulterior motives.
• Night camp and the gods’ disguises: Although the three divine beings—Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and Mountain Shaman—could easily sleep in supernatural comfort, they pretend to be human so as not to disturb ordinary people’s understanding of the world. Mountain Shaman provides a simple two-person tent but sleeps outside on a tree branch. He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan occupy the tent, despite both criticizing its poor quality.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan’s quarrel: The two gods argue over who has the right to stay inside the tent. Shui Wuyuan insists that his height and status entitle him to the space, while He Qinglan claims the tent is effectively a comfortable one-person tent and argues that his relationship with Mountain Shaman is better. Shui Wuyuan becomes jealous and stubborn when He Qinglan mentions their closer relationship, refusing to leave and deliberately spreading himself across the tent.
• Physical and emotional tension: Rather than squeezing himself into a corner, He Qinglan calmly lies partly on Shui Wuyuan’s body and arm. Shui Wuyuan is immediately startled and embarrassed, pulling away as though burned and angrily demanding an explanation. He Qinglan responds with amused composure, telling him to sleep in the nearby stream if he cannot tolerate being crowded. Their bickering reveals a familiar, increasingly intimate dynamic: Shui Wuyuan is powerful but childish and easily flustered, while He Qinglan remains controlled, teasing, and quietly dominant.
• Themes: The chapter combines comic divine banter with growing horror and suspense. The Flame Gems symbolize immense wealth and temptation, while the mountain’s unnatural atmosphere and the mountain man’s concealed greed suggest danger beneath the seemingly successful expedition.

Chapter 93 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan lie together in the tent, trading provocative remarks and silently competing to see who will yield first.
• Shui Wuyuan regains the upper hand by pulling He Qinglan into a tight embrace and teasing him, daring him to escape or complain. He Qinglan recognizes that continuing the game could become dangerous and ultimately stays still.
• The two remain locked in the embrace for roughly two hours, from ten at night until midnight, unable to sleep because of the tension and confusing emotions between them.
• Elsewhere, Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan fall asleep from exhaustion, while Mountain Shaman watches from a tree and is disappointed that He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan do not start fighting.
• A mountain villager secretly prepares to rob the group. He burns anesthetic herbs around the tree and both tents, intending to incapacitate everyone and steal the Flame Gem, which he believes will earn him twenty-five million.
• The villager plans to attack the tent containing He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan first, considering them the most important targets. He raises his machete to strike.
• Before he can attack, a voice from inside the tent suddenly calls him a “vile beast.” The villager freezes, wondering how his anesthetic could have failed, but then convinces himself that the words were merely sleep-talking.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan: Displays his usual arrogance and dominance, but his physical reactions—especially his pounding heart and inability to sleep—suggest that He Qinglan affects him deeply. His teasing embrace is both an act of control and an expression of emotions he cannot openly acknowledge.
• He Qinglan: Matches Shui Wuyuan’s provocations with calm defiance. Although he nearly responds forcefully, he realizes that the escalating intimacy and rivalry could become dangerous, showing restraint without conceding defeat.
• Mountain Shaman: Reveals a mischievous, voyeuristic side, treating the unresolved tension between the two men as entertainment. He remains alert enough to sense the intruder below the tree.
• The mountain villager: Is exposed as a greedy, calculating killer. He has carefully planned the robbery, underestimates the group, and assumes his anesthetic and machete will guarantee success.

Significant Themes

• Pride and power struggles: The interaction between He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan functions as a contest of wills in which neither wants to show weakness.
• Suppressed desire and emotional tension: Their physical closeness and sleeplessness reveal feelings neither openly admits, blurring the boundary between hostility, attraction, and intimacy.
• Deception and underestimation: The villager disguises his murderous intentions behind an ordinary appearance, while his confidence leads him to underestimate the travelers.
• Suspense and dramatic irony: The reader knows the danger outside the tent, while the villager mistakenly believes his victims are unconscious and helpless.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan: Engage in a flirtatious but antagonistic battle of words and physical dominance, ending in an uneasy embrace.
• Mountain Shaman and the pair: Observes their tension with amusement and wishes they had fought.
• The mountain villager and the group: The villager secretly drugs everyone in preparation for murder and robbery, but his plan is unexpectedly interrupted when someone inside the tent speaks.

Chapter 48 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mountain villager Lu Yongfu attempts to rob and kill He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan while they sleep, believing they have been incapacitated by numbing herbs.
• After hearing strange voices and waiting impatiently, Lu Yongfu finally slashes open their tent.
• Instead of finding them helpless or embracing, he discovers them sitting neatly side by side, smiling at him with unsettling calm.
• Lu Yongfu attacks He Qinglan with his machete, aiming for his neck. He Qinglan effortlessly catches the blade between two fingers, completely nullifying the strike.
• Lu Yongfu tries to reclaim his weapon but cannot move it. Realizing the situation is abnormal, he considers fleeing.
• When he attempts to run, Shui Wuyuan slaps him with overwhelming force, spinning him through the air and smashing him into the tent.
• Lu Yongfu struggles to recover, but He Qinglan—or possibly the pair’s combined retaliation—drives him through the tent. Shui Wuyuan then kicks him into a nearby stream.
• Lu Yongfu is unable to climb out. A small dark cloud forms directly above him and begins raining on him, intensifying his humiliation and discomfort.

Character Developments

• Lu Yongfu is revealed to be a practiced hunter and herb gatherer with experience in ambushes and killing. However, his confidence collapses when his carefully planned attack proves useless against the two vastly superior men.
• He Qinglan demonstrates extraordinary strength and composure by catching a lethal machete strike barehanded. His refined appearance contrasts sharply with his frightening power.
• Shui Wuyuan continues to behave playfully and theatrically while effortlessly overpowering Lu Yongfu. His slap and kick emphasize the enormous gap between his abilities and those of an ordinary human.
• The chapter reinforces that both men are powerful supernatural beings who have merely restrained or sealed most of their abilities while appearing human.

Significant Themes

• Overconfidence and poetic justice: Lu Yongfu believes he is exploiting vulnerable travelers, only to become helpless against opponents who anticipated his attack.
• Appearance versus reality: He Qinglan looks delicate and refined but possesses overwhelming physical strength, while the apparently ordinary camp conceals beings far beyond human capability.
• Humiliation as punishment: Rather than killing Lu Yongfu immediately, the pair repeatedly throws, slaps, and drenches him, turning his attempted robbery into a comic spectacle.
• Power imbalance: Human cunning and violence are shown to be meaningless against supernatural strength and awareness.

Character Interactions

• Lu Yongfu confronts He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan with murderous intent, but they respond with mocking smiles rather than fear.
• He Qinglan calmly catches Lu Yongfu’s machete and prevents him from reclaiming it.
• Shui Wuyuan directly retaliates, first striking Lu Yongfu into the tent and then kicking him into the stream.
• The author’s comedic interlude highlights Shui Wuyuan’s flirtatious teasing of He Qinglan, He Qinglan’s sharp retort, and the mountain villager’s bewilderment at their bizarre behavior.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Yongfu attempts to rob and murder Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan while they sleep, using anesthetic-laced leaves to incapacitate them and carrying a machete.
• The Mountain Shaman intervenes by conjuring a violent rainstorm filled with icy pellets and electrical sparks. Lu Yongfu panics, begs the Mountain God for protection, and faints.
• The Mountain Shaman mocks Lu Yongfu, insisting that the Mountain God would never protect someone so greedy and malicious. Shui Wuyuan further teases the Shaman by arguing that Lu Yongfu was at least “brave” when attempting the robbery.
• He Qinglan wakes Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan and shows them the evidence of the attempted attack. He explains that Lu Yongfu has been punished and will likely become seriously ill after spending the night in the freezing stream.
• He Qinglan advises the pair to turn back at dawn rather than continue deeper into Flaming Mountain. Terrified, both immediately agree.
• Zhao Kuan reveals the existence of the Hidden Web and explains the high value of the Flame Gems. He warns He Qinglan and the others that their discovery of more than fifty gems, especially after appearing on Shan’s livestream, may attract dangerous criminals.
• Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan decide to return the next morning. Zhao gives He Qinglan his contact information and offers help with online information and Hidden Web matters.

Character Developments

• Lu Yongfu is exposed as greedy, cowardly, and violent. His attempted robbery collapses when he encounters supernatural resistance, and his terror reveals how unprepared he is to face the consequences of his actions.
• The Mountain Shaman displays a playful but harsh sense of justice. He is embarrassed that Lu Yongfu claims to worship the Mountain God while behaving wickedly, and he takes pride in punishing him.
• He Qinglan remains calm, compassionate, and protective. He reassures the frightened travelers, gives them practical advice, and subtly observes Zhou Yuan’s continued greed without directly condemning her.
• Shui Wuyuan continues his antagonistic, teasing relationship with the Mountain Shaman, deliberately provoking him for amusement.
• Zhao Kuan develops into a responsible and grateful ally. Though initially motivated by profit, he recognizes the danger of greed, warns He Qinglan about future threats, and offers continued assistance.
• Zhou Yuan is frightened by the attack but remains strongly motivated by money, secretly celebrating the value of the Flame Gems even after deciding to retreat.

Significant Themes

• Greed and its consequences: Lu Yongfu’s desire to steal leads to supernatural punishment, while Zhao Kuan recognizes that the Flame Gems may provoke further violence.
• Justice and moral balance: Lu Yongfu’s fate is left partly to the moral judgment of his past actions, suggesting that wrongdoing has spiritual consequences.
• Appearance versus true character: The Mountain Shaman rejects Lu Yongfu’s claim to be a sincere worshipper, emphasizing that genuine faith requires kindness, courage, and integrity.
• Human danger versus supernatural danger: The travelers fear the mountain’s mysteries, but the immediate threat comes from another human being driven by greed.
• Protecting nature and respecting boundaries: He Qinglan’s final blessing links moral conduct and environmental responsibility with divine protection.

Character Interactions

• The Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan exchange playful insults, with Shui Wuyuan deliberately undermining the Shaman’s defense of his follower.
• He Qinglan treats Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan gently after rescuing them, providing reassurance rather than blame.
• Zhao Kuan expresses sincere gratitude and concern for He Qinglan, Shan, and Shui Wuyuan, warning them to conceal the Flame Gems from future livestreams.
• He Qinglan notices Zhou Yuan’s renewed excitement over profit despite her fear, revealing his perceptiveness and her unresolved greed.

Chapter 49 Summary

• Plot and events: At dawn, Zhao Kuan and Zhou Yuan leave the mountain after thanking He Qinglan’s group. Zhou Yuan secretly carries the two Flame Gems she took earlier, believing they are worth a fortune. After walking for about half an hour, she checks them and discovers they have inexplicably turned into ordinary gray stones. She panics, accuses He Qinglan of secretly switching them, and considers returning to search for the gems. Zhao Kuan rejects the idea, reminding her of the mountain’s dangers and refusing to go back. He has contacted their friends, Tiger and Tongtong, who will meet them at the foot of the mountain. Zhou Yuan eventually follows him.
• Character developments: Zhou Yuan’s greed and guilt become clear. Although she knows she did not honestly find the gems, she rationalizes taking them and becomes increasingly distraught when her hoped-for wealth disappears. Her suspicion quickly turns into an unjust accusation. Zhao Kuan shows considerably more moral judgment and caution, defending He Qinglan and Brother Shan while prioritizing survival over money. His warning that money is useless without the life to enjoy it reinforces his practical nature.
• Character interactions: Zhou Yuan blames He Qinglan based only on his supposedly “strange” smile, but Zhao Kuan forcefully challenges her accusation, pointing out that He Qinglan never came near them and could easily have demanded the gems openly if he wanted them. Their argument reveals the tension between Zhou Yuan’s envy and desperation and Zhao Kuan’s gratitude toward the people who saved them. The earlier humorous exchange about the gods’ “blessings” also frames the chapter’s supernatural events: the Mountain God merely helps travelers avoid getting lost, while the other gods offer protection only conditionally.
• Themes: The chapter explores greed, guilt, gratitude, and the consequences of coveting what belongs to others. It also emphasizes the danger of valuing wealth over safety and the importance of not making accusations without evidence. The transformed gems suggest that supernatural forces—or the mountain’s strange rules—punish dishonesty or prevent Zhou Yuan from profiting from her actions, though the exact cause remains unexplained.

Chapter 50 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhou Yuan’s journey to the mountain is plagued by misfortune. She repeatedly slips, falls into mud, and arrives three hours later filthy, exhausted, and emotionally broken. Zhao Kuan once again advises her to stay close to Brother Shan for protection, but she is too angry and humiliated to respond.
• Meanwhile, He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and the Mountain Shaman travel freely through the forest without the livestream audience or mortal companions slowing them down. Their playful behavior includes splashing water and throwing stones at one another.
• A series of four enormous explosions suddenly shakes the mountain. Birds flee in panic, and livestream viewers initially fear that an earthquake has struck.
• The gods quickly recognize that the blasts are man-made rather than natural. He Qinglan senses Fire God’s remaining Fire-Source Power fluctuating violently and dispersing with each explosion.
• Realizing that someone may be illegally mining the mountain, He Qinglan orders the livestream shut down. The Mountain Shaman transports him and Shui Wuyuan instantly to the explosion site.
• They find the mountainside scorched and ruined, with countless shattered red, heat-filled gemstones scattered through the soil and rocks. The destruction enrages He Qinglan, especially because it is damaging the Fire God’s fragmented power.
• Miners confront the three gods, demanding to know who they are and how they entered the area. He Qinglan responds with icy hostility.
• The chapter then shifts to Lai the Third, the foreman of the mining group. He explains that he and his men have spent a month in Flaming Mountain under orders from a powerful employer to hollow out the mountain and retrieve something hidden inside.
• Lai initially assumed the wealthy employer wanted gold, but he knows such large-scale excavation is illegal. Nevertheless, the employer is confident that his influence and the mountain’s isolation will prevent discovery. The employer’s son, supposedly supervising the operation, treats the expedition as an excuse to eat, drink, and enjoy himself.

Character Developments

• Zhou Yuan suffers a humiliating streak of bad luck, leaving her furious, despairing, and physically miserable. Her continued refusal to follow Brother Shan’s protection contrasts with Zhao Kuan’s practical concern.
• Zhao Kuan shows genuine concern for Zhou Yuan and repeatedly tries to steer her toward safety, though his advice only worsens her irritation.
• He Qinglan shifts from playful amusement to fierce anger once he realizes that the mining explosions are destroying Fire God’s power and damaging the mountain.
• Shui Wuyuan and the Mountain Shaman demonstrate their awareness of the supernatural consequences of the explosions. The Mountain Shaman acts decisively by shutting down the livestream and transporting the group to the site.
• Lai the Third is established as experienced but not foolish. Though he is accustomed to unusual jobs, the scale and secrecy of this operation make him uneasy. He also recognizes that the employer’s power protects the miners from ordinary consequences.
• Fire God remains a humorous but significant presence through the author’s note, joking about being shattered into even smaller pieces, while He Yushan dismisses him as weak.

Significant Themes

• Human destruction of nature: The illegal mining operation devastates Flaming Mountain and represents humanity’s willingness to exploit sacred or natural resources for profit.
• Conflict between divine power and human greed: The miners unknowingly destroy remnants of Fire God’s power, turning an ordinary criminal operation into a supernatural threat.
• The hidden consequences of environmental damage: The explosions do not merely scar the landscape; they disperse and weaken an ancient divine force.
• Fate and misfortune: Zhou Yuan’s disastrous journey provides comic relief while reinforcing the chapter’s broader atmosphere of things going badly and unpredictably.
• Power and impunity: The employer’s wealth and influence allow the miners to violate the law, reflecting how powerful people believe they can avoid accountability.
• Comedy beside danger: The gods’ childish antics and the livestream comments contrast sharply with the destructive mining and He Qinglan’s growing fury.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Kuan tries to advise Zhou Yuan to stay near Brother Shan, but her embarrassment and anger prevent any meaningful response.
• He Qinglan attempts to control Shui Wuyuan and the Mountain Shaman’s childish water-and-stone fight before the explosions interrupt them.
• The livestream audience reacts anxiously to the tremors, urging the group to seek safety and return from the mountains.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and the Mountain Shaman silently recognize the seriousness of the situation and cooperate immediately, ending the livestream and investigating the source together.
• Upon reaching the mining site, He Qinglan confronts the miners with open hostility, setting up a likely conflict between the gods and the illegal excavation crew.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lai the Third and his sixty-eight-man crew are hired to mine extremely valuable red gemstones known as Flame Gems. They are warned not to steal any, under threat from armed guards and constant surveillance.
• At first, the miners obey because of their high wages—1,000 yuan per day for ordinary workers and triple that for Lai the Third—but their greed grows after learning that a pigeon-egg-sized gem could be worth hundreds of thousands of yuan.
• Several miners begin secretly hiding gemstones. On the fourteenth day, the guards conduct a thorough search and discover eight thieves, one of whom has hidden more than a dozen gems.
• The guards execute all eight men on the spot, reducing the group from sixty-eight to sixty. The remaining workers become terrified and stop attempting to steal.
• The mine’s gemstone deposits gradually diminish: first appearing in large veins, then in increasingly smaller and more widely scattered pieces. Eventually, the miners can work for hours without finding anything.
• Although Lai assumes the mine has been exhausted, the young master and his scar-faced bodyguard insist that the supernatural gemstones possess a central “core” that can move underground. They order the miners to dig deeper and offer increased pay.
• As the workers dig toward the supposed core, the underground temperature begins rising again. Lai feels unusually energized and concludes that the gemstones’ supernatural power may be strengthening his body.

Character Developments

• Lai the Third begins as a cautious, practical gang leader who recognizes the value of the gems but intends to protect his lucrative employment. After witnessing the executions, he becomes even more obedient and fearful.
• His men shift from excited workers imagining how to spend their wages into desperate, greedy thieves, showing how quickly wealth undermines their loyalty.
• The young master is revealed to possess unusual knowledge about the Flame Gems, including their value and supernatural properties. His confidence suggests he is pursuing something far more important than ordinary gemstones.
• The scar-faced bodyguard acts as the young master’s enforcer and appears able to sense the location or energy of the hidden core.
• The miners’ fear and obedience increase after the executions, while the possibility of supernatural power introduces a new sense of anticipation and danger.

Significant Themes

• Greed and temptation: Even high wages cannot compete with the promise of instant wealth, leading the miners to risk their lives.
• Power and coercion: The employers maintain control through surveillance, weapons, and brutal executions.
• Exploitation: The miners perform dangerous labor for others while being denied access to the wealth they uncover.
• Supernatural mystery: The Flame Gems are not ordinary rubies; they contain energy, may move underground, and appear to have a central core.
• Human transformation through wealth and power: The gemstones affect not only the miners’ behavior but possibly their physical strength as well.

Character Interactions

• The employer’s initial warning establishes the relationship between the miners and their armed overseers: obedience is enforced through fear.
• Lai and his men bond through shared labor and fantasies about spending their wages, but this camaraderie deteriorates when they learn the gems’ true value.
• The guards’ inspection directly confronts the miners’ hidden greed, ending with the execution of eight men and forcing the survivors into submission.
• The young master and scar-faced bodyguard pressure Lai and the others to continue digging despite the diminishing deposits, using higher pay and their authority to motivate them.
• Lai increasingly observes rather than challenges those in power, but his growing physical strength may hint that he will become more significant as the search for the core continues.

Chapter 51 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lü Chenglong and his group learn that the streamer has revealed the existence of Flaming Mountain’s valuable red gemstones. Determined to keep the treasure for themselves, they order Lai the Third and the workers to use explosives to blast the mountain apart and expose the gemstone core.
• The head bodyguard climbs a watchtower to search for the streamer and intends to shoot him. However, before the group can secure the treasure, Shui Wuyuan, Mountain Shaman, and He Qinglan unexpectedly arrive.
• The explosions have devastated the mountain, scattering gemstone fragments and destroying the surrounding environment. Mountain Shaman mourns the ruined landscape, while He Qinglan angrily observes the wasted red gemstones.
• The head bodyguard fires at Shui Wuyuan, but Shui stops the bullet with a thin membrane of water and reflects it back into the gunman’s shoulder. The other armed bodyguards suffer the same fate, revealing Shui’s overwhelming supernatural power.
• During the chaos, Lai the Third senses an intense fire aura and secretly approaches the crater. He discovers that the true core is not red but a translucent, pale-blue stone. When he reaches for it, the stone burns him and erupts in flames.
• The gemstone awakens and speaks, furiously threatening to incinerate whoever disturbed its sleep. Lü Chenglong identifies it as the Earthfire Core and orders the head bodyguard to use the magical Mountain Pillar to capture it.
• Mountain Shaman immediately recognizes the danger of the Mountain Pillar, while the Earthfire Core insults him, Shui Wuyuan, and the sudden rain.
• The supernatural storm intensifies with thunder, violent wind, sand, and torrential rain. The ordinary workers panic and huddle together, unable to comprehend what they are witnessing.

Character Developments

• Lai the Third shifts from opportunistic greed to terrified awe after discovering the Earthfire Core. His desire for treasure remains strong, but he realizes he has awakened something far beyond human control.
• Lü Chenglong becomes increasingly consumed by greed. He treats the Earthfire Core as a possession and immediately commands others to capture it, showing his confidence and entitlement.
• The head bodyguard displays competence in planning but is decisively overpowered by Shui Wuyuan. His failed attack exposes the limits of relying on weapons against supernatural beings.
• Shui Wuyuan demonstrates immense control over water and effortlessly defeats the armed men. His contemptuous attitude remains intact, and he responds to danger with mockery rather than fear.
• Mountain Shaman is shown to care about the mountain and its natural surroundings, grieving the destruction caused by the explosives. His status is also significant, since the Earthfire Core fears that he might capture it.
• He Qinglan recognizes the gemstone as Chiyan and reacts with amused familiarity. His satisfaction suggests that the core’s obnoxious personality is exactly what he expected.
• The Earthfire Core/Chiyan awakens as a volatile, arrogant, and highly powerful fire spirit. It immediately insults the surrounding supernatural figures, apparently provoking multiple divine beings at once.

Significant Themes

• Greed and exploitation: Lü Chenglong’s group destroys an entire mountain and its ecosystem in pursuit of a treasure they believe is worth more than a city.
• Human power versus supernatural forces: Guns, explosives, wealth, and planning prove useless against Shui Wuyuan and the awakened Earthfire Core.
• Nature’s retaliation: The destruction of Flaming Mountain is followed by violent wind, rain, thunder, and the awakening of the mountain’s hidden power, suggesting consequences for exploiting nature.
• The danger of hidden treasures: What appears to be a valuable gemstone is actually a sentient and immensely dangerous entity.
• Humor amid danger: Chiyan’s insults, Shui Wuyuan’s sarcastic response, and the author’s divine commentary undercut the chapter’s violence with comedic irreverence.

Character Interactions

• Lü Chenglong pressures Lai the Third and the workers to accelerate the excavation and use explosives.
• The head bodyguard attempts to kill the arriving Shui Wuyuan but is defeated when his bullets are reflected back at him and the other guards.
• Lai the Third secretly tries to claim the core while everyone is distracted, but the Earthfire Core burns him and awakens.
• Lü Chenglong orders the head bodyguard to use the Mountain Pillar, drawing Mountain Shaman’s immediate attention.
• Chiyan insults Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan, while He Qinglan silently confirms that the gemstone is the notorious Chiyan.
• The chapter ends with the ordinary humans paralyzed by fear as the supernatural conflict begins.

Chapter Summary

• The bodyguards’ attack fails completely. Their bullets rebound off an unseen defense, causing panic and terror among the heavily armed men. Uncle Xiao realizes the situation is far more dangerous than expected.
• Uncle Xiao’s background and ambitions are revealed. As an Otherworlder capable of controlling the Mountain God Pillar, he had believed the Pillar’s power would allow him to subdue the weakened True Fire Core. His loyalty to the Lü Family stems partly from Lü Chenglong’s father saving his life and partly from the family’s wealth and connections, which help him pursue supernatural treasures. He views this mission as a chance to earn greater rewards, cultivation methods, and sacrificial offerings from his organization.
• Fear replaces Uncle Xiao’s confidence. He recognizes that the True Fire Core is much stronger than anticipated and senses extraordinary danger from all three people opposing him. He suspects Shui Wuyuan, Mountain Shaman, and the seemingly gentle third figure may all possess powers comparable to his own. He also grows contemptuous of Lü Chenglong, seeing him as an incompetent, spoiled burden whose only skills are bullying and issuing orders.
• Uncle Xiao launches a desperate assault. Believing the rain and gravel cannot stop him, he activates the Mountain Pillar’s power using a bloodied stone awl. His aura surges, and he phases through the earth, rain, and flying grit, reaching the pale-blue True Fire Core almost instantly. His goal is to seize the Core and escape underground before the others can stop him.
• The True Fire Core recognizes the Mountain Pillar. The Fire God Origin inside the Core is shocked that a mortal possesses an object containing Mountain Shaman’s origin—especially one corrupted by sinister power. It identifies Uncle Xiao’s artifact as a tainted Mountain Pillar and begins attacking him with Fire-Source Power, though a black-and-yellow barrier protects him.
• The Fire God appeals to Mountain Shaman, but is mocked. Chiyan insults Uncle Xiao and demands that Mountain Shaman intervene. Mountain Shaman coldly refuses, reminding Chiyan that he had claimed superiority and should therefore handle the situation himself. He deliberately watches, hoping Chiyan will fail and be forced to acknowledge that he is weaker than even a fragment of Mountain Shaman’s power.
• Past rivalries among the gods emerge. The narration establishes Chiyan as hot-tempered, arrogant, and fond of provoking others, while Mountain Shaman is outwardly calm but calculating and “black-bellied.” Chiyan has historically been one of the gods most frequently beaten because of his irritating behavior, though Shui Wuyuan’s aggressive personality often diverted attention from him.
• Chiyan becomes increasingly frantic. The rain reminds him of Shui Wuyuan, whom he suspects is present. He then senses another familiar aura belonging to “Little River” and desperately calls for help, promising to stop using the insulting nickname and instead call him “Great Torrent.” The chapter ends with Chiyan appealing to his former companions while Uncle Xiao continues trying to claim him.

Key Themes

• Overconfidence turning into fear: Uncle Xiao’s faith in supernatural power collapses when confronted with forces beyond his expectations.
• Power and hierarchy: The chapter contrasts mortals, Otherworlders, and ancient divine beings while exploring who truly possesses authority.
• Mockery and rivalry: The gods’ hostile banter reveals long-standing relationships built around insults, grudges, and reluctant dependence.
• Corruption and dangerous power: The tainted Mountain Pillar suggests that supernatural strength may come at the cost of moral or spiritual corruption.
• The helplessness of ordinary force: Guns and armed bodyguards prove useless against divine or Otherworldly abilities.