Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Twin Ghost Kings, Battle Imminent”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin confronts Shuten Doji, one of the Red Sun Federation’s most powerful Ghost Kings and supposedly its strongest close-combat fighter.
• Shuten Doji refuses to fight Fu Junlin directly, declaring that Fu Junlin is unworthy unless he releases the mysterious creature sealed within him.
• The Ghost Tamer accompanying Shuten Doji reveals his true form: Nurarihyon, a powerful demon disguised as a plump man.
• Nurarihyon attacks Fu Junlin with an extraordinarily powerful blade enhanced by Demon Aura, driving Fu Junlin through several trees.
• While Shuten Doji observes from a distance, Nurarihyon and Fu Junlin clash at close range. Fu Junlin suffers facial wounds but realizes that the pressure of the attack has helped him unlock the energy hidden within his body.
• Fu Junlin releases a terrifying burst of Information Pheromone, sending Nurarihyon flying and uprooting the surrounding trees.
• He finally gains control over the energy he has been struggling to master: Overlord’s Pressure.
• With this breakthrough, Fu Junlin’s confidence and power rise sharply. He now believes he can defeat Nurarihyon, who responds by preparing to use a more powerful technique.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin demonstrates improved knowledge of the Red Sun Federation’s language, allowing him to exchange insults and threats directly with the enemy.
• His prolonged training and recent battlefield experiences enable him to awaken and control the energy within him.
• Fu Junlin’s transformation from uncertainty to overwhelming confidence is marked by the successful activation of Overlord’s Pressure.
• Shuten Doji is established as an arrogant, highly confident Ghost King who considers Fu Junlin beneath him. He is particularly interested in the being sealed inside Fu Junlin rather than Fu Junlin himself.
• Nurarihyon reveals himself as a powerful demon swordsman. Though initially dominant, he is surprised by Fu Junlin’s sudden power increase and is forced to consider using a trump card.
• Big Black provides comic relief by admiring Shuten Doji’s beautiful appearance, even in the middle of the confrontation.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and awakening: Fu Junlin’s latent strength can only be accessed after enduring intense pressure and combat.
• Trial through battle: The fight itself becomes a catalyst for Fu Junlin’s breakthrough, suggesting that danger and adversity accelerate growth.
• Pride and underestimation: Shuten Doji dismisses Fu Junlin, while Nurarihyon initially gains the upper hand; both may be underestimating Fu Junlin’s true potential.
• Contrasting power systems: The chapter introduces the relationship between Ghost Aura, Demon Aura, and Information Pheromone, showing that the Red Sun Federation’s supernatural abilities operate through interconnected forms of energy.
• Appearance versus strength: Shuten Doji’s delicate, beautiful appearance contrasts with his reputed physical power, while Nurarihyon’s aged, hunched form conceals immense destructive ability.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin and Shuten Doji exchange insults over who is worthy to fight the other.
• Shuten Doji challenges Fu Junlin to release the creature within him, showing his interest in Fu Junlin’s hidden power.
• Nurarihyon offers to force the creature out by attacking Fu Junlin himself.
• Big Black’s admiration of Shuten Doji’s looks contrasts with Fu Junlin’s readiness to battle.
• Shuten Doji deliberately stays out of the initial fight, observing Fu Junlin and waiting for the sealed entity to emerge.
• After Fu Junlin unleashes Overlord’s Pressure, Nurarihyon recognizes the escalation and prepares a stronger move, setting up the next stage of the battle.

Chapter Summary: Stage One: Mirror Flower, Water Moon

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin continues his intense physical battle with Nurarihyon, whose strength and spear techniques have overwhelmed him in close combat. Nurarihyon is forced to retreat more than a hundred meters.
• Realizing that direct combat is disadvantageous, Nurarihyon uses his technique, “Mirror Flower, Water Moon.”
• The technique distorts Fu Junlin’s perception. Nurarihyon disappears, while visions of Fu Junlin’s past battles appear around him. These illusions focus especially on moments when Big Black controlled his body, suggesting that Nurarihyon is studying them for weaknesses and trying to force Big Black into revealing himself.
• Big Black’s Biological Vision fails to detect any abnormality, proving that Nurarihyon’s illusion is exceptionally sophisticated.
• Fu Junlin counters by closing his eyes and combining his Intent with Xiang Yu’s Transcendent Information Pheromone. This creates a powerful, independent-looking Hegemon Clone, modeled after himself.
• The clone detects Nurarihyon hiding nearby and attacks him. Nurarihyon evades while attempting to record information about Fu Junlin and Big Black in a notebook. The clone’s assault disrupts his investigation.
• Fu Junlin abandons direct pursuit of Nurarihyon and turns his attention to Shuten Doji. Big Black takes greater control of their body, producing a 50% fusion form.
• Big Black attacks Shuten Doji with the Voidreturn Spear, but Shuten Doji dodges and dismisses the attack as insufficient.
• The chapter ends with Big Black and Shuten Doji exchanging punches. Despite Big Black’s power, Shuten Doji’s superior size and strength force him several steps backward.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Demonstrates tactical adaptability. Rather than being trapped by Nurarihyon’s illusion, he uses his Transcendent Information Pheromone to create a Hegemon Clone and counterattack indirectly. He also recognizes that Nurarihyon is investigating the relationship between him and Big Black.
• Big Black: Becomes increasingly eager to display his full strength and directly seizes partial control of Fu Junlin’s body. His confidence and excitement contrast with the serious danger posed by Shuten Doji.
• Nurarihyon: Reveals himself as a highly analytical and deceptive opponent. Instead of relying solely on combat, he uses illusions, observes Fu Junlin’s past actions, and records his findings while searching for a weakness.
• Shuten Doji: Remains overwhelmingly confident and physically dominant. He easily dismisses the fusion’s initial attack and demonstrates that Big Black’s current power is still below his own.

Significant Themes

• Perception versus reality: Nurarihyon’s illusion blurs the boundary between present events and recorded memories, making observation itself unreliable.
• Adaptation and countermeasures: Fu Junlin responds to illusion with a new manifestation of his own power, showing that victory depends on flexibility rather than brute force alone.
• Identity and duality: The conflict between Fu Junlin and Big Black raises questions about control, partnership, and the division between the body’s true owner and its internal power.
• Information as power: Nurarihyon’s notebook and Fu Junlin’s use of Information Pheromone both emphasize that knowledge, observation, and hidden abilities are as important as physical strength.
• Limits of power: Even the impressive 50% fusion of Fu Junlin and Big Black remains inferior to Shuten Doji’s raw strength, establishing a major gap between them.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin and Nurarihyon: Their battle shifts from direct weapon clashes to a contest of perception and strategy. Nurarihyon studies Fu Junlin, while Fu Junlin creates the Hegemon Clone to interfere with him.
• Fu Junlin and Big Black: Fu Junlin relies on Big Black’s abilities but cannot fully share the clone’s vision, highlighting the limitations of their cooperation. Big Black’s excitement eventually leads him to seize partial control.
• Big Black and Shuten Doji: Their confrontation becomes the chapter’s main physical clash. Big Black attacks aggressively, but Shuten Doji’s dismissive response and superior strength show that the battle is far from even.

Summary: “Second-Stage Mirror Flower, Water Moon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Big Black and Shuten Doji engage in a brutal close-combat battle. Although Big Black repeatedly charges back after being knocked away, Shuten Doji gradually gains the upper hand, especially after the liquor poured from his gourd saturates the ground and strengthens him.
• Shuten Doji’s repeated attacks tear away the skin on his hands, revealing monstrous ghost claws beneath his handsome exterior. He eventually crushes Fu Junlin’s breastbone with a powerful punch.
• Nurarihyon reappears and recalls the Hegemon Clone into Fu Junlin’s body. He identifies Big Black’s weakness: the Steel-Skirt Monster’s terrifying infrasound.
• Nurarihyon summons an illusion of the Steel-Skirt Monster and amplifies its infrasound through the second stage of Mirror Flower, Water Moon. The attack shakes Big Black’s spiritual energy and forces Fu Junlin into a deadly mental illusion.
• Within the illusion, Fu Junlin and Big Black face a devastating storm of lightning and ice blades. Big Black begins to disintegrate, but Fu Junlin protects him with Overlord’s Pressure, using his own body and willpower as a shield.
• The Hegemon Clone is impaled and seemingly killed by the storm. Big Black believes Fu Junlin has died and desperately mourns him.
• In reality, Fu Junlin remains standing but is badly affected by the mental assault, bleeding and crying while refusing to collapse or release his hidden power.
• Shuten Doji attacks Fu Junlin directly. At the last moment, Fu Junlin’s enormous, terrifying black form emerges and blocks the punch with a giant claw.
• The transformed Fu Junlin, enraged by being forced to relive the pain of losing his “little brother,” declares that Nurarihyon and the others deserve to die.

Character Developments

• Big Black continues to display extraordinary resilience and a reckless enjoyment of battle, repeatedly returning despite being overpowered. His vulnerability to infrasound is exposed, making him dependent on Fu Junlin’s protection.
• Fu Junlin demonstrates deep loyalty and self-sacrifice by shielding Big Black inside the illusion, even though doing so causes his own willpower to be destroyed. His emotional trauma over losing his “little brother” becomes the trigger for his terrifying transformation.
• Shuten Doji grows stronger through the liquor surrounding the battlefield and reveals a more monstrous nature beneath his attractive appearance. He becomes increasingly impatient and aggressive when Fu Junlin’s true power fails to emerge.
• Nurarihyon proves to be a calculating opponent. Rather than relying only on physical strength, he studies Fu Junlin’s weaknesses and upgrades Mirror Flower, Water Moon from a probing illusion into a lethal attack.
• The Hegemon Clone is shown to represent Fu Junlin’s willpower within his consciousness. Its apparent death illustrates the danger of Nurarihyon’s mental technique.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and protection: Fu Junlin willingly takes the storm’s full force to save Big Black, reversing their usual protective relationship.
• Trauma and grief: Nurarihyon weaponizes Big Black’s weakness and Fu Junlin’s memories, forcing him to relive the terror of losing someone precious.
• Hidden strength and transformation: Fu Junlin’s true form emerges only after extreme emotional pain, suggesting that grief and rage unlock his greatest power.
• Appearance versus reality: Shuten Doji’s beautiful face hides grotesque ghost claws, while Fu Junlin’s terrifying form becomes the embodiment of loyalty and protection.
• Mental attacks as real danger: Although Mirror Flower, Water Moon creates illusions, its effects threaten consciousness and willpower as seriously as physical injuries.

Important Character Interactions

• Big Black and Shuten Doji exchange mutual excitement and respect during their initial fight, treating the battle as a test of strength.
• Nurarihyon taunts Fu Junlin by exposing Big Black’s weakness and deliberately uses it against them.
• Fu Junlin reassures and protects Big Black, telling him that after Big Black has always protected him, he will protect Big Black this time.
• Big Black reacts with panic and grief when Fu Junlin’s Hegemon Clone appears to die.
• Shuten Doji attempts to finish Fu Junlin, but Fu Junlin’s monstrous transformation intercepts him and redirects the conflict toward Nurarihyon, fueled by fury over the recreated loss of his brother.

Plot points and events

• Big Black unleashes his full 200% true form, brutally overpowering Shuten Doji and Nurarihyon.
• He kills Nurarihyon’s Demon Tamer with a single strike, then batters Shuten Doji until Shuten Doji awakens his Ghost King power by absorbing the alcohol in the air.
• The two clash in a destructive hand-to-hand battle, devastating the forest. Shuten Doji’s Ghost Armor eventually falters, revealing his gravely injured Tamer.
• The Tamer summons the Life-Slaying Stone as a barrier. Big Black smashes it, releasing the tens of thousands of vengeful souls imprisoned within.
• Using the black mist as cover, Shuten Doji’s Tamer escapes. Big Black, distracted by the souls and worried about Fu Junlin’s endangered consciousness, abandons the chase and destroys the stone completely.
• The freed spirits scatter, apparently relieved to escape their captivity.

Character developments and interactions

• Big Black displays overwhelming physical power and ferocious determination, but his true form leaves his mind vulnerable. His concern for Fu Junlin takes priority over pursuing his enemies.
• Shuten Doji reveals his formidable Ghost King power, yet is caught off guard by Big Black’s attack and ultimately loses the advantage.
• Shuten Doji’s Tamer shifts from fighting to desperate self-preservation, sacrificing the Life-Slaying Stone as a distraction so he can flee.
• Nurarihyon attempts to use illusion and an infrasonic attack, but Big Black’s speed prevents him from responding.
• The battle is defined by the contrast between the two monsters’ similar, brutal fighting styles and the destruction their clashes cause.

Significant themes

• Freedom versus exploitation: The vengeful souls’ escape suggests the Life-Slaying Stone imprisoned them as a resource, and their release is a form of liberation.
• Power and vulnerability: Big Black and Shuten Doji possess immense physical strength, but each has weaknesses—Big Black’s vulnerable mind and Shuten Doji’s dependence on his Tamer’s energy.
• Survival and sacrifice: The Tamer chooses his own life over protecting the stone, while Big Black’s priorities are shaped by concern for Fu Junlin rather than revenge.

Chapter Summary: This Time, I’ll Play You

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the battle ends, Big Black transforms back into Fu Junlin’s body, but Fu Junlin does not reappear. Big Black eventually senses a faint remnant of Fu Junlin’s consciousness, suggesting that he has entered a deep hibernation rather than truly disappeared.
• Realizing Fu Junlin may still be recoverable, Big Black decides he must temporarily take over Fu Junlin’s role. This terrifies him because Fu Junlin normally provides the intelligence, restraint, and social stability that keep Big Black from causing trouble.
• Shi Hongyu and Ling Xiaobing arrive searching for Fu Junlin. Afraid that others will discover his identity as the monster within Fu Junlin, Big Black hides and pretends to be unconscious.
• Ling Xiaobing embraces and shakes him, while Shi Hongyu correctly concludes that Fu Junlin is merely unconscious and orders everyone to leave the dangerous area.
• Meanwhile, the Final Blade Federation achieves a major victory over the Red Sun Federation. It captures the enemy’s military zone, secures the Light Gate, and establishes the conquered base as a new stronghold.
• Fu Junlin’s body is transported to the Final Blade Federation’s military district and placed in intensive care alongside Ba Dawang. Doctors and War Banner Masters examine him, but Big Black lowers his bodily functions to avoid being exposed and convinces them that he is simply in an unusually deep coma.
• While maintaining the disguise, Big Black repeatedly tries to awaken Fu Junlin by calling his name, striking the Energy Core, and telling jokes. None of these efforts work, but he remains convinced that Fu Junlin can be restored.
• Big Black finally accepts that he must “play” Fu Junlin for the time being, despite his lack of confidence and his chaotic personality.

Character Developments

• Big Black: Moves from panic and helplessness to reluctant determination. He realizes for the first time how essential Fu Junlin is to him—not merely as a host, but as his guide, protector, and stabilizing counterpart. He also demonstrates unexpected cleverness by hiding his identity and manipulating his body’s condition.
• Fu Junlin: Though unconscious, he remains spiritually present as a faint “flame” within Big Black. His absence reveals how much of Big Black’s behavior and survival depended on him.
• Ling Xiaobing: Shows strong emotional attachment to Fu Junlin, immediately rushing to him and fearing that he may be dead or abandoning her.
• Shi Hongyu: Acts pragmatically and decisively, calming Ling Xiaobing, assessing the situation, and arranging Fu Junlin’s evacuation and treatment.
• Luo Fengshan and the Final Blade Federation: Take advantage of the battlefield victory by securing territory, supplies, military intelligence, and a strategic defensive position.

Significant Themes

• Identity and role reversal: Big Black must assume Fu Junlin’s identity even though their personalities are radically different.
• Dependence and mutual importance: Big Black’s realization that Fu Junlin is “important beyond anything” highlights their deep bond and interdependence.
• Responsibility and maturity: Big Black, previously reckless and childish, is forced to take responsibility for Fu Junlin’s body, relationships, and future.
• Hope amid apparent loss: Fu Junlin’s faint consciousness suggests that disappearance is not death, giving Big Black a reason to continue.
• Comedy alongside danger: Big Black’s fear, awkward attempts at acting unconscious, and absurd jokes contrast with the serious military victory and Fu Junlin’s uncertain condition.

Character Interactions

• Big Black speaks to and attempts to awaken the dormant Fu Junlin, revealing both his emotional dependence and his determination to save him.
• Ling Xiaobing’s emotional reunion with the apparently unconscious Fu Junlin contrasts with Big Black’s anxiety about being discovered.
• Shi Hongyu interacts with Ling Xiaobing in a practical, mildly irritated manner, taking control of the rescue.
• Big Black interacts indirectly with the doctors and military personnel, deliberately deceiving them by suppressing his bodily functions.
• The chapter ends with Big Black humorously pledging to impersonate Fu Junlin while hoping that Fu Junlin’s consciousness will somehow guide or bless him.

Chapter Summary: “Old Fu’s Mental Illness Acted Up”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ba Dawang’s rescue team arrives after he is exposed to Electromagnetic Interference Clouds. Elder Qin examines him and determines that his condition is mild, then treats him with medicine.
• Elder Qin also examines Fu Junlin, who is still pretending to be unconscious while Big Black inhabits his body. He finds no physical problem and predicts that Fu Junlin should wake by the following morning.
• After everyone leaves, Shi Hongyu stays behind to watch over Fu Junlin. She holds his hand, speaks to him as though he were unconscious, and prepares to kiss him goodnight.
• Big Black panics at the thought of being kissed while inside Fu Junlin’s body. He makes a noise and turns away, causing Shi Hongyu to believe Fu Junlin has awakened.
• Big Black pretends to be weak and confused, claiming that he fainted after Shuten-dōji and Nurarihyon attacked him together.
• He nearly reveals his true identity through strange wording and behavior, including mentioning “Rising Dragon Fist.” He quickly changes the subject and asks Shi Hongyu for food.
• Shi Hongyu notices that Fu Junlin’s personality and mannerisms seem abnormal. After speaking with him, she tells Cheng Xiaoyu that something is wrong, prompting Cheng Xiaoyu to speculate that “Old Fu’s mental illness” may have returned.

Character Developments

• Big Black: Becomes increasingly anxious about maintaining his disguise. He struggles to imitate Fu Junlin’s personality while avoiding exposure, but his instincts, speech, and overly casual behavior repeatedly give him away. His sense of loyalty also prevents him from allowing Shi Hongyu to kiss him.
• Fu Junlin: Remains physically incapacitated or absent while Big Black controls his body. His familiar personality becomes the standard against which Shi Hongyu detects the impostor.
• Shi Hongyu: Demonstrates deep concern and affection for Fu Junlin by staying beside him, comforting him, and preparing to kiss him. Her close familiarity with him allows her to recognize subtle differences in his behavior.
• Elder Qin: Establishes that both patients are not in immediate physical danger. His ambiguous comments and actions suggest he may realize more about the situation than he says.
• Cheng Xiaoyu: Quickly accepts the possibility that Fu Junlin’s strange behavior is connected to a mental or psychological problem.

Significant Themes

• Identity and impersonation: Big Black must convincingly perform Fu Junlin’s identity while concealing that someone else is controlling his body.
• Intimacy and boundaries: Shi Hongyu’s affection creates a comedic but morally tense situation because Big Black sees her as Fu Junlin’s wife and refuses to take advantage of the circumstances.
• Observation and familiarity: The chapter emphasizes how close relationships reveal changes that outsiders would miss.
• Comedy through deception: Big Black’s frantic inner thoughts contrast with his attempts to appear calm, producing humor as he narrowly avoids exposing himself.
• Appearance versus reality: Though Fu Junlin’s body appears healthy, the personality operating it is fundamentally different, making psychological behavior more revealing than physical examination.

Character Interactions

• Elder Qin examines Ba Dawang and Fu Junlin while the others express concern.
• Shi Hongyu remains at Fu Junlin’s bedside, speaks tenderly to him, and nearly kisses him before Big Black interrupts.
• Big Black and Shi Hongyu converse after his “awakening,” with Big Black imitating Fu Junlin and Shi Hongyu carefully studying his behavior.
• Shi Hongyu later confides in Cheng Xiaoyu, who suggests that Fu Junlin’s unusual behavior may be a recurrence of his supposed mental illness.

Chapter Summary: “Pretending to Be Old Fu Was a Bit Difficult”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Xiaoyu learns that Big Black, currently occupying Fu Junlin’s body, is supposedly suffering from “Scholar Syndrome” and possible schizophrenia. He assumes Fu Junlin’s mind has split and enters the room amused by the situation.
• Big Black struggles to maintain the appearance of being Fu Junlin while secretly trying to force Fu Junlin’s consciousness to reemerge.
• Cheng Xiaoyu reports that Silent One activity has spread throughout A2 Main City and nearby cities. The movement began after a Subspecies was abused to death, but hidden forces exploited the incident and revived Fu Junlin’s former identity as “The Silent One.”
• Masked groups and Silent One organizations are appearing everywhere, creating a rare opportunity to unite the Subspecies and potentially challenge the authorities.
• Cheng Xiaoyu asks Big Black what action they should take to use this momentum to rescue Fu Junlin’s father from the Tribunal Hall. Big Black offers an absurd plan involving mass theft, chaos, killing members of the Zhonghe Institute, and staging a coup.
• Cheng Xiaoyu leaves in disbelief, convinced that Big Black’s “illness” is responsible for his foolishness.
• Shi Hongyu brings Big Black eight-treasure porridge. Big Black pretends to be helpless and asks her to feed him, partly to provoke Fu Junlin’s consciousness. He notices that Fu Junlin reacts emotionally when Shi Hongyu treats him affectionately.
• Shi Hongyu urges Big Black to meet Supreme Marshal Luo and deal with information from the Red Sun Federation, likely concerning a Retroactive Energy Core. Big Black tries to avoid responsibility, so Shi Hongyu agrees to represent him.
• The chapter ends with Shi Hongyu revealing that the Zhonghe Institute is determined to execute Ba Dawang, creating an unavoidable crisis.

Character Developments

• Big Black: Continues impersonating Fu Junlin but is increasingly overwhelmed by Fu Junlin’s responsibilities. He uses childish behavior, feigned illness, and flirtation to avoid difficult decisions while also deliberately testing Fu Junlin’s emotional reactions.
• Fu Junlin: Remains mostly hidden within Big Black’s body, but his consciousness reacts when Shi Hongyu feeds and comforts Big Black. This reveals that he is still emotionally attached to Shi Hongyu and may be influenced by jealousy or embarrassment.
• Cheng Xiaoyu: Treats the situation humorously and assumes Fu Junlin’s apparent irrationality results from schizophrenia. Despite mocking Big Black, he recognizes the importance of the growing Silent One movement.
• Shi Hongyu: Patiently accommodates Big Black’s strange behavior because she believes he is mentally unstable. She remains responsible and practical, managing his obligations and protecting him from unnecessary stress.
• Ba Dawang: Though absent from the scene, he becomes central to the developing conflict because the Zhonghe Institute is demanding his life.

Significant Themes

• Identity and impersonation: Big Black must imitate Fu Junlin while lacking his knowledge, authority, and emotional understanding, making his disguise increasingly difficult to sustain.
• Political unrest and revolutionary opportunity: The abuse and death of a Subspecies sparks widespread organization under the Silent One symbol, showing how oppression can unite a fragmented population.
• Responsibility versus avoidance: Big Black repeatedly tries to escape Fu Junlin’s duties, while Shi Hongyu and Cheng Xiaoyu push him toward action.
• Emotional bonds and jealousy: Big Black exploits Shi Hongyu’s affection to provoke Fu Junlin, revealing the strength of Fu Junlin’s feelings despite his physical absence.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter uses mistaken assumptions, exaggerated acting, and absurd proposals to lighten serious developments involving rebellion, political conspiracies, and Ba Dawang’s threatened execution.

Important Character Interactions

• Cheng Xiaoyu and Big Black: Cheng Xiaoyu questions Big Black about the Silent One movement and expects strategic guidance. Big Black’s ridiculous coup proposal leaves him speechless.
• Big Black and Shi Hongyu: Big Black manipulates Shi Hongyu into feeding him, while Shi Hongyu tolerates his behavior out of concern for his supposed mental condition. Their interaction also provokes Fu Junlin’s hidden consciousness.
• Shi Hongyu and Fu Junlin: Though Fu Junlin does not openly appear, his subtle reaction to Shi Hongyu’s care demonstrates that their relationship remains emotionally powerful.
• Big Black and Fu Junlin: Big Black internally begs Fu Junlin to take control and help solve the political crisis, but Fu Junlin remains silent, leaving Big Black to manage his obligations alone.

Chapter Summary: “A Law That Makes No Sense”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Big Black realizes he has dangerously neglected to ask about Ba Dawang’s condition after waking up. Since he is impersonating Fu Junlin, this lapse could expose his identity.
• He learns that Ba Dawang survived but is under serious threat: both Zhonghe Institute and the Tribunal Hall are involved, and even the Tribunal Hall refuses to protect him.
• Ba Dawang’s situation is complicated because, although he killed the Supreme Marshal, disobeyed orders, and fled the battlefield, he also discovered the Life-Slaying Stone and potentially saved the Federation’s border from a future war.
• Shi Hongyu explains that the decision now depends largely on Big Black. Big Black jokingly tries to shift responsibility onto her by suggesting that she handle the matter as his wife, but ultimately agrees to attend the hearing himself.
• To avoid sharing a room and bed with Shi Hongyu—something Fu Junlin normally does—Big Black claims he must stay beside the unconscious Ba Dawang overnight.
• After Shi Hongyu leaves, Ling Xiaobing sneaks into the room to visit him. She brings several boxes of homemade pastries, hoping that Fu Junlin’s dissociative disorder may have changed his preferences and given her a chance to become closer to him.
• Big Black eagerly devours the pastries and enthusiastically promises that she must make them for him again. Ling Xiaobing is delighted, interpreting his appetite and friendliness as signs of affection.
• The next morning, Big Black appears alone at a tribunal hearing before senior officials from the Tribunal Hall and Zhonghe Institute, as well as several military generals.
• He imitates Fu Junlin’s intimidating manner and argues against the ruling that Ba Dawang’s merit cannot cancel out his crimes. He openly declares that the law is irrational because awarding a medal after Ba Dawang’s death is meaningless if his life is not protected.

Character Developments

• Big Black: Becomes increasingly aware of the dangers of impersonating Fu Junlin. He tries to imitate Fu Junlin’s speech, attitude, and confidence, despite lacking Fu Junlin’s usual sharpness and willingness to insult others. His concern for Ba Dawang shows growing loyalty and responsibility, while his avoidance of Shi Hongyu reveals his discomfort with maintaining Fu Junlin’s personal life.
• Shi Hongyu: Notices that Big Black’s behavior is unlike Fu Junlin’s, particularly his tendency to avoid responsibility and seek advice. She remains practical and exhausted from the ongoing conflict but still supports him in confronting the authorities.
• Ba Dawang: Remains unconscious or critically incapacitated, yet his past actions become the center of the political and legal dispute. His discovery of the Life-Slaying Stone establishes him as both a criminal under the law and a major wartime hero.
• Ling Xiaobing: Takes advantage of Big Black’s dissociative disorder to approach “Fu Junlin.” She becomes hopeful that his altered personality may allow her to win his affection. His enthusiastic response to her food greatly strengthens her romantic optimism.
• Fu Junlin: Though absent in person, his identity dominates the chapter. Big Black must constantly imitate his mannerisms, opinions, and relationships, while other characters judge him according to how closely he resembles Fu Junlin.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between law and justice: The tribunal applies rules rigidly, refusing to let Ba Dawang’s lifesaving contribution offset his crimes. Big Black challenges the logic of punishing the living while honoring the dead.
• Merit versus guilt: Ba Dawang’s actions raise the question of whether extraordinary service can redeem disobedience and violence committed during war.
• Identity and performance: Big Black’s survival depends on acting like Fu Junlin, but his different personality repeatedly threatens to expose him.
• Love and misunderstanding: Ling Xiaobing mistakes Big Black’s appetite and friendliness for romantic interest, highlighting how affection can distort perception.
• Responsibility and sacrifice: Big Black is forced to decide whether to defend Ba Dawang, despite the danger of becoming entangled in the case and revealing that he is not truly Fu Junlin.

Important Character Interactions

• Big Black and Shi Hongyu: They discuss Ba Dawang’s legal crisis. Shi Hongyu pressures Big Black to make the decision, while he humorously attempts to make her take responsibility instead. Their exchange also shows his anxiety about sharing a bed with her.
• Big Black and Ling Xiaobing: She brings him pastries to comfort him, and he responds with exaggerated delight. Their interaction gives her false hope that his altered personality may be romantically interested in her.
• Big Black and the tribunal: At the hearing, he adopts Fu Junlin’s cold demeanor and directly attacks the tribunal’s reasoning, arguing that a posthumous medal cannot compensate for executing a valuable soldier.

Chapter Summary: “Mr. Mad Dog Fu Junlin”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tribunal Hall debates whether Ba Dawang should be executed for killing Supreme Marshal Wei Jiandong.
• Fu Junlin, whose mental state has been affected by a head injury and schizophrenia, unexpectedly criticizes the Tribunal Hall. His strange phrase about “abandoning the roots and following the outline” leaves the adjudicators confused but momentarily unsettled.
• The Tribunal Hall proposes reevaluating Ba Dawang’s military merits under Article 145 of the Military Discipline Code, suggesting that his punishment may still be negotiable.
• Minister Lin of the Zhonghe Institute objects, arguing that killing a Supreme Marshal is an extraordinary crime that cannot be judged by ordinary military regulations. He emphasizes Wei Jiandong’s status and contributions.
• Luo Fengshan counters Minister Lin’s elitist argument, sarcastically asking whether that means ordinary soldiers and generals are merely “stray cats and dogs.”
• Big Black presents Ba Dawang’s achievements:
  • Ba Dawang, despite being severely injured and unable to move, explained that he had pursued the Red Sun Federation’s main camp to redeem himself.
  • He discovered the existence of the Life-Slaying Stone, which absorbed the souls of fallen Red Sun soldiers and made the Federation’s forces increasingly powerful.
  • This intelligence prevented the human army from being overwhelmed in a future attack and enabled them to seize a large enemy war zone.
• Luo Fengshan and his allies support Big Black, insisting that Ba Dawang’s intelligence saved the entire defensive line. They warn that executing him would damage troop morale and might even trigger a mutiny.
• Minister Lin angrily declares that Ba Dawang is doomed regardless of these arguments.
• Big Black then declares that Ba Dawang is like his younger brother and threatens to kill or torment the specific officials responsible if Ba Dawang is found guilty.
• His threat is reinforced when he dents the table with one punch, causing the Tribunal Hall and Zhonghe Institute officials to realize that Fu Junlin may genuinely be dangerous and unpredictable.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin/Big Black: His instability becomes more pronounced, but his “madness” also serves as a weapon. He shifts from joking and boastful behavior to terrifying, focused hostility when Ba Dawang is threatened. His loyalty is absolute, and he makes it clear that he will pursue personal revenge against the officials rather than attack indiscriminately.
• Ba Dawang: Though absent and physically incapacitated, he is portrayed as a remorseful but courageous soldier. His decision to seek redemption leads to a major intelligence breakthrough that may have saved the army.
• Luo Fengshan: He acts as a calm but sharp political defender of Ba Dawang, using sarcasm and logic to expose the Zhonghe Institute’s elitism and pressure the Tribunal Hall to follow the law.
• Minister Lin: He becomes increasingly aggressive and defensive. His confidence weakens once Fu Junlin threatens him personally, revealing that his earlier boldness depended heavily on institutional protection.
• Chief Adjudicator Zhao: He appears caught between legal procedure and political pressure. Although he supports reevaluating Ba Dawang’s case, he is visibly wary of provoking Minister Lin and the Zhonghe Institute.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus political influence: The case shows how legal decisions can be distorted by institutional status, personal interests, and political pressure.
• The value of ordinary soldiers: Minister Lin’s emphasis on Wei Jiandong’s rank is challenged by the argument that Ba Dawang’s contribution may have been even more important to the army’s survival.
• Redemption through action: Ba Dawang attempts to atone for his crime by risking his life, suggesting that meaningful service can complicate simple judgments of guilt and punishment.
• Loyalty and brotherhood: Big Black’s defense of Ba Dawang demonstrates fierce personal loyalty, even when that loyalty places him in opposition to powerful authorities.
• Madness as both weakness and power: Fu Junlin’s damaged mental state makes him appear irrational, but it also makes him frighteningly difficult to intimidate or control.
• Morale and collective consequences: The characters argue that executing a proven hero could damage the army’s spirit and undermine trust in its leadership.

Character Interactions

• The Tribunal Hall attempts to maintain legal authority while offering limited room for negotiation.
• Minister Lin repeatedly clashes with Luo Fengshan over whether Ba Dawang’s case should be treated as an ordinary military crime or an exceptional offense.
• Big Black interrupts the political debate by emphasizing Ba Dawang’s battlefield contribution and later turns the discussion into a direct personal confrontation.
• Luo Fengshan’s group supports Big Black’s argument, combining evidence, sarcasm, and warnings about military morale.
• The chapter ends with Minister Lin and the other officials intimidated by Fu Junlin’s threats, as his unpredictable behavior transforms the hearing from a legal proceeding into a dangerous standoff.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Minister Lin backs down after Fu Junlin—through Big Black’s intimidating performance—threatens him. The chief judge intervenes, ending the hearing and preventing Ba Dawang’s execution for the time being.
• The confrontation reveals that the conflict between Zhonghe Institute and Fu Junlin’s allies has already begun. Minister Lin and others leave, now more focused on eliminating Fu Junlin than prosecuting Ba Dawang.
• After the others depart, Tribunal Hall officials confront Big Black about his hidden identity as the Silent One, whom they know from his past actions in Flying Cloud City and Crimson Crown City.
• They question him about the massive demonstrations in A2 Main City. The protests began after a Subspecies died due to abuse and neglect in a factory, and they have spread to other cities, involving Subspecies and Superior Humans.
• Big Black repeatedly claims the unrest is not his responsibility, pointing out that the protests remain peaceful and that the factory and its officials have not been properly punished.
• Judge Zhao admits that the Tribunal Hall suspects powerful people are manipulating the protests. He asks Big Black to cooperate and eventually appear publicly as the Silent One to calm the situation.
• Big Black initially intends to refuse, but Fu Junlin’s weakened consciousness signals that he should accept. Big Black therefore agrees, on the condition that the Tribunal Hall deals with the factory quickly, while warning that he cannot guarantee he will solve the entire crisis.

Character Developments

• Big Black demonstrates considerable nerve and improvisational skill. He uses Fu Junlin’s frightening reputation to protect Ba Dawang and deflect responsibility for the protests.
• He also shows his growing ability to imitate Fu Junlin’s mannerisms, especially his shamelessly evasive and provocative way of speaking.
• Fu Junlin, though mostly silent, remains influential through his consciousness inside Big Black. His limited physical response indicates that he is still extremely weak, but he is able to guide Big Black’s decision.
• Judge Zhao and the Tribunal Hall shift from suspicion and pressure to negotiation. They recognize that coercing Fu Junlin would be counterproductive and try to secure his voluntary cooperation.
• Minister Lin loses authority and confidence after being intimidated and overruled. His hostility toward Fu Junlin intensifies.
• Luo Caichi and Luo Fengshan perceive that the Tribunal Hall’s request for the others to leave has a deeper purpose, though they do not interfere.

Significant Themes

• Political manipulation and institutional failure: The protests stem from public anger over the inadequate punishment of a factory responsible for a Subspecies’ death. The authorities focus more on controlling unrest than addressing its root cause.
• Power through reputation: Big Black succeeds because Fu Junlin’s reputation makes even government officials fear him. Perceived danger proves as effective as actual force.
• Justice versus suppression: The Tribunal Hall initially seeks to stop the demonstrations, but Big Black argues that genuine accountability—not silencing the public—is necessary.
• Identity and performance: Big Black adopts Fu Junlin’s speech, attitude, and tactics, blurring the line between his own identity and the legendary Silent One.
• Unintended consequences: Protecting Ba Dawang may deepen the conflict with Zhonghe Institute, while the growing protests may develop beyond anyone’s control.

Character Interactions

• Big Black intimidates Minister Lin, while the chief judge reprimands Fu Junlin’s supposed threat only after the damage has been done.
• Judge Zhao privately questions Big Black about the Silent One and the protests, testing whether he is secretly directing them.
• Big Black challenges the Tribunal Hall by repeatedly asking whether the factory has been properly punished and whether the marches have actually caused violence.
• Judge Zhao ultimately asks Big Black to become the public figure capable of calming the movement.
• Big Black consults Fu Junlin’s consciousness through a series of weak internal pulses and accepts the mission, reluctantly but decisively.

Chapter Summary: The Tribunal Hall’s Small Request

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chief Judge Zhao and the Tribunal Hall persuade Big Black to accept a mission, offering to give Ba Dawang a light punishment in exchange for Zhonghe Institute’s satisfaction.
• Big Black privately mocks the Tribunal Hall’s hypocrisy: it previously claimed merit could not excuse wrongdoing, yet now uses Ba Dawang’s contributions to justify leniency.
• After returning to his room, Big Black discovers that Fu Junlin’s consciousness has begun responding through physical “thumps.” However, Fu can only signal agreement or disagreement, forcing Big Black to guess his intentions.
• Big Black deduces that the next step is to make their position public through the media. Fu rejects several possible contacts before approving Fat Tiger, who had originally arranged the livestream that established the Silent One’s authenticity.
• Big Black struggles to determine what message they should deliver. Fu rejects both an overly aggressive call to attack Zhonghe Institute and a passive appeal to stop the protests. Big Black realizes they must find a balanced position and begins drafting the message himself.
• Meanwhile, mass demonstrations spread throughout A2 City and surrounding cities. Protesters wearing Silent One Masks chant against discrimination and demand equal treatment for Subspecies.
• Riot police observe the marches but do not intervene because the protesters remain peaceful. Officers recognize that the movement could become dangerous as the masks give ordinary people anonymity and courage.
• The protests have expanded beyond demands to punish abusers or close unethical manufacturers. They now challenge the entire social system of discrimination, with nearly one-third of the population involved or wearing masks.
• Society’s elites remain cautious and refuse to take sides, waiting for the real Silent One to reveal himself and determine the movement’s ultimate direction.

Character Developments

• Big Black becomes an intermediary between Fu Junlin and the outside world. Though initially confused and reluctant, he demonstrates resourcefulness by creating a yes-or-no communication method and identifying Fat Tiger as the appropriate media contact.
• Fu Junlin regains limited consciousness and physical responsiveness. His impatience and firm reactions show that he remains mentally engaged and determined to guide events, despite being unable to speak directly.
• Chief Judge Zhao and the Tribunal Hall are portrayed as politically motivated and opportunistic. Their willingness to manipulate Ba Dawang’s punishment reveals that institutional “justice” is flexible when authority and reputation are at stake.
• Ba Dawang, though absent from the chapter, benefits from his past contributions, which the Tribunal Hall uses to justify reducing his punishment.
• The protesters evolve from demanding specific punishments and reforms to seeking broad social equality and an end to systemic discrimination.
• The elites and authorities become increasingly apprehensive as the movement grows beyond their ability to control or predict it.

Significant Themes

• Institutional hypocrisy: The Tribunal Hall changes its standards depending on convenience, exposing the self-serving nature of official justice.
• Communication and cooperation: Fu Junlin’s limited “thump” signals require Big Black to interpret, improvise, and collaborate with him.
• The power of anonymity: The Silent One Masks allow people to overcome fear and act collectively, making the movement difficult to suppress.
• Systemic discrimination: The chapter emphasizes that prejudice is not maintained only through laws but through decades of social conditioning, making it far more difficult to dismantle.
• Social awakening and collective action: Individual protests develop into a widespread movement as Subspecies and Superior Humans unite around equality.
• The uncertainty of revolution: Although the demonstrations remain peaceful, both the police and elites fear that growing frustration could eventually lead to open conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Big Black and Chief Judge Zhao: Zhao attempts to bargain with Big Black by offering Ba Dawang leniency, while Big Black internally ridicules the Tribunal Hall’s double standards.
• Big Black and Fu Junlin: Their interaction drives the chapter. Big Black proposes ideas, while Fu approves or rejects them through increasingly forceful thumps. Their exchange highlights both Fu’s urgency and Big Black’s reluctant ingenuity.
• Big Black and Fat Tiger: Fat Tiger is identified as the necessary media connection because of his prior role in organizing the Silent One’s livestream, though the actual meeting has not yet occurred.
• Protesters and riot police: The protesters remain peaceful while the police monitor them cautiously, recognizing that the movement’s scale and anonymity make it potentially uncontrollable.
• The movement and the elites: The growing demonstrations place high society in a tense waiting position, as influential figures refuse to act until the Silent One publicly defines the movement’s goals.

Chapter Summary: “Fat Tiger Meets The Silent One Again”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fat Tiger has built a rapidly expanding organization in Crimson Crown City and established bases across major cities through the Phoenix spacecraft.
• Despite his success, he is anxious because the recent “Silent One” incident has attracted widespread attention to his group. Many people suspect that he caused or exploited the unrest.
• A visitor arrives claiming to be The Silent One. Having met hundreds of impostors before, Fat Tiger nevertheless agrees to see him, as he always does.
• The visitor is revealed to be Big Black, also known as Fu Junlin, a former member of the Subspecies squad from Flying Cloud City.
• Fat Tiger verifies his identity through a secret sign-language code that only the real Silent One would know. Big Black then confirms himself using The Silent One’s distinctive hollow voice.
• Fat Tiger becomes overwhelmed with emotion, crying and laughing as he welcomes back someone he has waited a long time to see.
• The two discuss Fat Tiger’s loyalty: although he could have profited greatly from fake Silent Ones, he refused to exploit the identity because doing so would undermine the real Silent One’s significance.
• After some humorous banter involving Fat Tiger’s secretary, Big Black reveals that he has come because of the recent Silent One marches. He needs to livestream again and asks whether Fat Tiger has the courage to help.

Character Developments

• Fat Tiger is shown to be more than an ambitious businessman. He is deeply devoted to The Silent One and has protected the identity out of loyalty rather than profit. His emotional reunion reveals how strongly he values their past connection.
• Big Black/Fu Junlin returns openly and confidently, demonstrating that he trusts Fat Tiger. His crude humor and familiar manner confirm that he is the same person associated with The Silent One’s earlier broadcasts.
• Fat Tiger’s secretary admires The Silent One as a cultural idol, reflecting the immense popularity and symbolic importance of his identity.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and trust: Fat Tiger’s refusal to monetize impostors proves his loyalty and establishes the basis for Big Black’s trust.
• Identity and symbolism: The Silent One has become more than an individual; he represents shared ideals and memories that transcend age, race, and social status.
• Public image and exploitation: The growing movement creates danger because political unrest and commercial interests are becoming connected to The Silent One’s reputation.
• Reunion and emotional bonds: Fat Tiger’s reaction shows how deeply past events shaped those who followed or supported The Silent One.

Character Interactions

• Fat Tiger initially jokes and flirts with his secretary, but the mood changes when Big Black arrives.
• Big Black identifies himself through their secret sign-language code, creating an intimate moment of recognition.
• Fat Tiger reacts with intense affection and relief, while Big Black praises him for resisting opportunities to profit from false versions of The Silent One.
• Their playful exchange about the secretary’s appearance restores the humorous dynamic associated with The Silent One’s livestreams.
• The chapter ends with Big Black asking Fat Tiger to support a new livestream connected to the ongoing marches, setting up a potentially dangerous collaboration.

Chapter Summary: “Do You Look Down on Fat Tiger?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Big Black agrees to return to livestreaming under the Silent One’s identity, despite recognizing the danger and pressure involved. He will stream on Fat Tiger Entertainment at ten the following morning.
• Fat Tiger explains that his company now has coverage across the Federation and promises to promote Big Black’s broadcast to every user within fifteen minutes of its start.
• News of the Silent One’s return is immediately publicized through a massive pinned announcement featuring Fat Tiger’s emotional reaction and identifying the original account, “The Silent One.”
• Silent One fans quickly spread the news through protest marches. Veteran fans defend the announcement’s authenticity, arguing that Fat Tiger preserved the original account and that impostors would be easily recognized.
• Protesters rush to download the DouShark app. The campaign causes Fat Tiger Entertainment’s user count to increase by 367% overnight, forcing the company to rely on its recently upgraded servers.
• Although some people suspect the announcement is merely a publicity stunt, enthusiastic “old fans” drown out the skepticism with exaggerated claims about their history with the Silent One.
• At 9:40 the next morning, people throughout the Federation pause their activities and gather around screens, waiting for the Silent One’s broadcast.
• The audience includes ordinary protesters, Zhonghe Institute officials, the War Preparedness Faction, military personnel at the border, influential families in Ranger Town, and an underground group in A2 Main City.
• Fu Junting watches the countdown and privately expresses support for his brother, Fu Junlin, saying that he has done all he can and is leaving the rest to him.

2. Character Developments

• Big Black accepts the role of the Silent One publicly, showing courage despite understanding that the broadcast could expose him to severe danger.
• Fat Tiger demonstrates loyalty, ambition, and confidence in Big Black. He risks his company’s future by promoting the return and has prepared the platform’s infrastructure to handle the expected surge.
• The veteran fans are portrayed as deeply devoted and protective of the Silent One’s legacy. Their confidence helps transform uncertain rumors into widespread public belief.
• Fu Junting reveals a strong emotional attachment to Fu Junlin and indicates that he is supporting his brother from the sidelines.
• The Federation’s factions and institutions become increasingly invested in the Silent One’s actions, showing that he has developed from a popular figure into a major political and social force.

3. Significant Themes

• Courage and sacrifice: Big Black’s decision to stream is framed as a brave step into danger, while Fat Tiger’s support also involves risking his company.
• Celebrity, myth, and public faith: The Silent One has become a near-mythical figure. Fans trust that they can recognize the “real” Silent One and treat his return as a historic event.
• Power of mass communication: A single announcement spreads through livestreaming platforms, protests, and fan networks, producing an enormous social response almost overnight.
• Public opinion as a political force: The protests and the broadcast have become so influential that major institutions and military factions are forced to monitor them closely.
• Loyalty and collective identity: Fans, allies, and political groups unite around the Silent One, while personal loyalty is reflected in Fat Tiger’s protection of the account and Fu Junting’s support of his brother.
• Commercial exploitation and genuine devotion: Fat Tiger uses the Silent One’s return to grow his platform, but the fans’ enthusiasm suggests that the event is more than simple advertising.

4. Character Interactions

• Big Black and Fat Tiger: Their exchange mixes serious danger with humor. Fat Tiger challenges Big Black’s courage, promotes him aggressively, and invites him to stay overnight, while Big Black responds with confidence and playful irritation.
• Fans among the protesters: One informed veteran fan educates others about the original account and persuades them to trust the announcement. The group’s banter highlights both their devotion and their exaggerated, often absurd claims of familiarity with the Silent One.
• Fat Tiger and the protesters: Paid promoters announce the broadcast during demonstrations, turning the protest crowds into a powerful advertising network.
• Fu Junting and Fu Junlin: Though they do not meet directly in the chapter, Fu Junting’s final words show that he has acted to help his brother and now entrusts the next stage to him.
• The Silent One and the Federation: Even before appearing, the Silent One commands the attention of civilians, institutions, generals, powerful families, and underground organizations, establishing the immense influence surrounding his return.

Chapter Summary: “A Story for You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At 9:58 p.m., Big Black prepares to livestream a major broadcast while wearing the Silent One Mask. He is nervous because his speech consists of uncertain notes based on conversations with the absent Fu Junlin.
• Fat Tiger organizes the high-quality broadcast, and the stream quickly attracts an enormous audience—at least 38 million viewers, with even more watching from shared screens across the Final Blade Federation.
• The appearance of the Silent One provokes an emotional reaction. Longtime followers remember his history as:
  • A powerful monster-fighting streamer and pioneer of solo Arena Zone challenges.
  • A humorous but influential teacher whose monster analyses became educational material.
  • The discoverer of Purification Meat, which helped treat Secondary Energy Infection.
  • A defender of Subspecies who survived an attempted execution and later provided the Purification Agent, helping end the infection crisis.
• Big Black initially struggles under the pressure of the huge audience. Just before he begins speaking, Fu Junlin awakens and stabilizes him through their mental connection.
• Fu Junlin can communicate with Big Black for only five minutes, so Big Black abandons his written notes and repeats Fu Junlin’s prepared speech.
• The speech presents Fu Junlin’s life as a Subspecies: childhood poverty, discrimination, humiliation, and blocked opportunities. It then turns toward unity, dignity, patriotism, and the demand that Subspecies be recognized as equal citizens.
• The broadcast ends with a rallying declaration that the Federation belongs to both ordinary citizens and Subspecies, and that Subspecies are not afraid to sacrifice themselves.

Character Developments

• Big Black changes from a terrified substitute speaker into a confident representative of Fu Junlin’s message. His anxiety disappears once Fu Junlin reconnects with him.
• Fu Junlin is revealed to be awake but weak and unable to control the body directly. Despite his condition, he remains determined to address the Federation and inspire Subspecies.
• Fat Tiger demonstrates loyalty and competence by managing the broadcast, though he is surprised and uncertain about Fu Junlin’s plan.
• Fu Junlin’s public image is reinforced as a legendary figure whose past actions gave him enormous emotional and political influence.

Significant Themes

• Unity and collective identity: The speech argues that Subspecies can only gain dignity and political strength by standing together.
• Discrimination and inequality: Fu Junlin recalls hunger, poverty, restricted education, prejudice, and institutional exclusion caused by his identity.
• Dignity and belonging: The central demand is that Subspecies be treated as rightful members of the Federation rather than outsiders.
• Sacrifice and resistance: Bloodshed is acknowledged as a tragic but unavoidable cost of defending one’s people and homeland.
• The power of symbols and memory: The Silent One’s mask and history transform the broadcast into a moment of mass emotional and political significance.

Character Interactions

• Fat Tiger supervises Big Black and urges him to begin when the broadcast goes live.
• Fu Junlin communicates privately with Big Black, mocking his nervousness, calming him, and instructing him to discard his notes.
• Big Black acts as Fu Junlin’s voice, repeating his words to the massive public audience.
• The audience’s emotional response—tears, excitement, and relief—shows the deep connection between the Silent One and the people, especially Subspecies and those who benefited from his past actions.

Chapter Summary: The War Preparedness Faction Is Officially Established

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin publicly announces, during a massive livestream watched by hundreds of millions, that the War Preparedness Faction has officially been established.
• The announcement shocks the Zhonghe Institute and inspires Subspecies, who have never before possessed such a powerful political voice.
• The faction already has two major sources of strength:
  • Military backing: Around seventy percent of the Federation Army supports it, largely because of Luo Fengshan’s reputation after his victories against the Red Sun Federation.
  • Public support: The widespread popularity of the Silent One and his mask has given Fu Junlin enormous influence among ordinary citizens and Subspecies.
• The Zhonghe Institute realizes that suppressing the movement could trigger civil war, leaving the Federation vulnerable to the Red Sun Federation and monster attacks. Even victory would likely leave the country devastated.
• The Institute attempts to stop the livestream by bribing or threatening Fat Tiger Entertainment. Fat Tiger refuses the offer, declaring that although he loves money, he is still a Subspecies, and destroys his phone before returning to broadcast the speech.
• At the border, Luo Fengshan silently reacts with determination, recognizing that the movement now has what his earlier opposition to the Zhonghe Institute lacked: overwhelming public support.
• Fu Junlin declares the faction’s central principles:
  • Ending discrimination
  • Defending the Federation
  • Improving people’s lives
• He demands that the Zhonghe Institute reveal its tax revenues and provide regular military funding to the new faction. He threatens that affiliated companies will stop paying taxes if the Institute refuses.
• He also declares that anyone wearing the Silent One mask must be protected from discrimination, while warning Subspecies not to abuse the movement to provoke violence or settle personal grudges.
• Fu Junlin acknowledges that conflict with the Zhonghe Institute is inevitable but believes the Subspecies will ultimately prevail because they have little left to lose, whereas the privileged Superior Humans fear upheaval.
• He leaves the practical task of controlling unrest and enforcing order largely to Luo Fengshan.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin emerges as a bold political leader. He transforms the Silent One phenomenon from a cultural movement into an organized political and military faction.
• Luo Fengshan gains renewed importance as the de facto leader of the faction’s military strength. His past failures against the Zhonghe Institute are contrasted with his present advantage: broad public trust.
• Fat Tiger demonstrates unexpected loyalty and courage. Though tempted by wealth and influence, he chooses solidarity with the Subspecies over personal gain.
• The Zhonghe Institute is revealed to be powerful but increasingly vulnerable. It still controls the economy, technology, education, and state institutions, but it can no longer easily command public loyalty.
• The Subspecies shift from a marginalized population to an organized political force capable of challenging the ruling establishment.

Significant Themes

• The emergence of marginalized voices: The chapter celebrates the Subspecies’ first major opportunity to speak and act collectively.
• Power depends on legitimacy as well as force: The Zhonghe Institute possesses institutional control, but Fu Junlin’s faction gains strength through popular support and military loyalty.
• Revolution and political organization: The Silent One movement evolves into a structured faction with principles, demands, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Class and social inequality: The chapter contrasts the privileged Superior Humans, who fear losing comfort and status, with Subspecies who feel they have nothing left to lose.
• The dangers of retaliation: Fu Junlin supports resistance but warns that personal revenge and uncontrolled violence could destroy the movement’s legitimacy.
• The limits of authoritarian control: Even a regime controlling taxation, companies, education, and armed forces may become powerless when the population and military begin withdrawing their allegiance.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin and the public: His speech directly addresses both Subspecies and the broader population, turning widespread admiration for the Silent One into political commitment.
• Fu Junlin and the Zhonghe Institute: He openly challenges the Institute’s authority by demanding financial transparency, military funding, and an end to discrimination.
• The Zhonghe Institute and Fat Tiger: The Institute attempts to buy or intimidate Fat Tiger into ending the livestream, but he rejects them and continues supporting Fu Junlin’s message.
• Fu Junlin and Luo Fengshan: Fu Junlin publicly positions Luo Fengshan as the faction’s leader, entrusting him with military and administrative responsibilities.
• The faction and the Subspecies: The new movement promises protection and empowerment while also imposing discipline to prevent extremists from abusing its cause.

Chapter Summary: “Wages Slashed by 1,000 Yuan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin’s declaration of the War Preparedness Faction causes a major political uproar, especially within the Zhonghe Institute, which views his actions as a public challenge.
• His demand for military funding is revealed to be a clever political maneuver. By leaving the Zhonghe Institute’s political authority untouched, Fu prevents them from punishing him without appearing unreasonable.
• The Zhonghe Institute cannot refuse funding without angering supporters of the War Preparedness Faction and risking a broader tax crisis. Its leaders recognize that Fu has exploited a weakness in their system.
• The highest Zhonghe leaders, represented by mysterious figures behind black screens, remain calm. They intend to let Fu gather all their opponents into one faction so they can eventually destroy them together.
• The Tribunal Hall realizes that Fu has maneuvered them into an awkward position by effectively securing Luo Fengshan’s release and making it impossible to arrest him again without risking civil war. They reluctantly decide to stay neutral.
• Fu also announces concrete reforms for Subspecies, including requiring companies displaying the Silent One Mask to eliminate racial discrimination.
• Public reactions vary sharply:
  • One company boss enthusiastically smashes the “For Subspecies Only” water dispenser and declares that discrimination will no longer be tolerated.
  • Another boss condemns Fu as a foolish troublemaker, orders employees back to work, and threatens Subspecies workers who support the movement by cutting their wages by 1,000 yuan and firing anyone who refuses to comply.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin is shown to be highly strategic and politically bold. His seemingly aggressive demands are actually calculated moves that preserve his position while forcing his opponents to support him.
• The Zhonghe Institute’s leaders are revealed to be powerful but cautious. They recognize Fu’s intelligence and choose to tolerate his faction temporarily rather than give him an excuse to escalate the conflict.
• The Tribunal Hall executives become frustrated and embarrassed after realizing Fu has outmaneuvered them. Their decision to remain spectators reflects their reluctance to become involved in a potential civil war.
• Luo Fengshan gains practical freedom and is positioned as the leader of the War Preparedness Faction, despite the Tribunal Hall’s inability to officially release or recapture him.
• The two company bosses illustrate opposing responses to reform: one embraces equality, while the other doubles down on discrimination and intimidation.
• The Subspecies workers become more openly defiant, showing that Fu’s words are beginning to inspire collective resistance.

Significant Themes

• Political strategy and power struggles: Fu’s actions demonstrate how legal and political constraints can be used against entrenched authorities.
• Institutional weakness: Both the Zhonghe Institute and Tribunal Hall possess great power but are limited by public opinion, taxation, legitimacy, and the threat of civil war.
• Social reform versus entrenched prejudice: The chapter contrasts genuine support for equality with employers who exploit their authority to preserve discrimination.
• Collective action: Fu’s reforms matter because ordinary Subspecies can enforce them through coordinated resistance and public pressure.
• The cost of resistance: The wage-cut threat shows that social progress may provoke retaliation from those who benefit from the existing hierarchy.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin indirectly confronts the Zhonghe Institute by demanding military funds while avoiding a direct challenge to its formal authority.
• The black-screen leaders debate whether to suppress Fu immediately or allow him to gather their enemies into one organized faction.
• Tribunal Hall officials argue over Luo Fengshan’s status, recognizing that any attempt to arrest him could trigger conflict with the Zhonghe Faction.
• In the supportive company, the boss and employees share a humorous but symbolic confrontation over the discriminatory water dispenser, ending in collective celebration.
• In the hostile company, the boss openly threatens the Subspecies employees, while they silently resist by refusing to return to work, setting up a likely confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Major Shakeup in the Job Market”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Furious at the Subspecies workers’ demands for dignity and fair treatment, a company boss cuts their wages by 1,000 and openly intensifies his discriminatory insults.
• He assumes the workers will not resign because their jobs are respectable and relatively secure. However, he badly underestimates their accumulated anger.
• A young Subspecies employee resigns dramatically by removing his uniform and crushing his employee badge in his hand, injuring himself in the process. The other Subspecies workers follow him out.
• Nearly half the company’s staff quits immediately. The remaining Superior and Mighty Species employees realize that the departing workers performed over 70% of the company’s difficult and specialized labor.
• Similar walkouts occur across the country. Many companies lose large numbers of Subspecies employees, and some confrontations become violent, overwhelming the Security Management Office.
• The labor exodus unexpectedly benefits struggling small and medium-sized businesses. These companies rush to recruit highly skilled Subspecies workers at lower wages, seeing the influx as a chance to survive or expand.
• A television news program reports on the upheaval and debates whether it will destabilize society or improve the economy.
• Economists argue that, after an initial period of chaos, the labor shift will eliminate inefficient companies and force businesses to compete through better quality, service, and speed.
• The discussion also connects the economic upheaval to the broader conflict between the Zhonghe Institute and the War Preparedness Institute, suggesting that political developments may determine whether the positive changes continue.

Character Developments

• The boss is revealed as arrogant, prejudiced, and overconfident. His attempt to reassert control instead exposes how dependent his company is on the workers he mistreats.
• The young Subspecies employee becomes a symbol of resistance. His decision to destroy his badge and walk away demonstrates that dignity has become more important than job security.
• The Subspecies employees transform from a suppressed labor force into a united group capable of exerting enormous economic power. Their collective action shows that their anger has reached a breaking point.
• Superior and Mighty Species employees are forced to confront their dependence on Subspecies labor and the consequences of their privileged work culture.
• Small-business owners become opportunistic but hopeful, recognizing that the mass resignations may provide them with the skilled workers needed to compete.
• Professor Chen and Professor Zheng support the economic benefits of the labor shift but behave comically and unprofessionally during the broadcast, arguing over whether they are staring at reporter Shui Yanghua.
• Shui Yanghua presents herself as a polished, reassuring reporter while subtly manipulating the interview and emphasizing optimism, social harmony, and the interests of her media organization.

Significant Themes

• Dignity versus economic security: The workers prove that humiliation and discrimination can eventually outweigh the need for stable, well-paying employment.
• Collective action and labor power: Individually vulnerable workers become powerful when they act together, disrupting companies and exposing their dependence on marginalized labor.
• The fragility of discriminatory systems: Businesses that rely on exploited workers can collapse quickly when those workers withdraw their labor.
• Economic restructuring: The upheaval may destroy stagnant mainstream enterprises while giving smaller, more progressive businesses an opportunity to rise.
• Social inequality and exploitation: The chapter highlights how privileged workers and employers have benefited from pushing difficult, specialized work onto the Subspecies.
• Political and economic interdependence: The labor crisis is linked to the struggle between major institutions, showing that social reform is vulnerable to larger political conflicts.
• Media framing and public perception: The news broadcast presents the upheaval as potentially healthy economic reform while also softening its instability and political implications.

Character Interactions

• The boss confronts the Subspecies workers with threats and insults, but the young employee answers through action rather than argument by crushing his badge and leaving.
• The departing workers act together, turning one employee’s protest into a mass walkout.
• The remaining employees react with shock and resentment when they realize how much work the Subspecies handled.
• Business owners coordinate urgently to recruit the newly available workers, treating the labor crisis as an economic opportunity.
• Shui Yanghua interviews Professors Chen and Zheng about the consequences of the walkouts. The professors agree on the broad economic benefits but derail the discussion by accusing each other of staring at the reporter.
• Shui Yanghua humorously mediates their quarrel, then returns the conversation to wages, workplace comfort, economic growth, and the rivalry between the two major institutions.

Chapter Summary: “Black Hand Enters the Pig Farm”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Niu Yun reads Shui Yanghua’s controversial report and criticizes the increasingly extreme rhetoric spreading during the turbulent political climate.
• New Perspective has encouraged Shui Yanghua to publicly express radical views, while various media outlets exploit the conflict between the Zhonghe Institute and the War Preparedness Institute for attention and traffic.
• Supporters of both sides are beginning to organize civilian groups and oppose one another, though some observers believe these developments are part of a larger scheme orchestrated by The Silent One.
• At a military facility on the border, the Tribunal Hall orders the release of Luo Fengshan. Two adjudicators unlock the five restraints that have suppressed his power for years.
• After regaining his freedom and strength, Luo is visited by Fu Junlin, now known as Big Black. Big Black has avoided him because Fu Junlin had fallen into slumber, but he finally confronts his father and tearfully calls him “Dad.”
• In space, a mysterious black, semi-transparent spacecraft hovers between Blue Star and the moon. Three luminous entities emerge and descend toward Blue Star, splitting toward the Red Sun Federation, the Final Blade Federation, and an unknown destination.
• One entity crashes into a shrine in the Red Sun Federation, destroying the building and killing or injuring those nearby.
• The entity takes the form of a silver, mercury-like substance that merges with a severely injured middle-aged man. It repairs his body and appears to suppress or erase his emotions.
• The transformed man effortlessly kills people who approach him: one is pulverized without warning, while another disintegrates after the man touches his forehead. He then calmly walks toward the nearby city.

Character Developments

• Shui Yanghua becomes a more openly radical public voice under New Perspective’s influence, contributing to the escalating ideological conflict.
• Luo Fengshan is freed after years of imprisonment and suppression. His emotional reaction shows how deeply he has longed for release, while the return of his strength hints at his importance in future events.
• Big Black/Fu Junlin struggles with his identity and with approaching Luo as his son. Despite his hesitation, he finally acknowledges Luo as his father, marking a major emotional breakthrough.
• The injured middle-aged man is transformed into a seemingly emotionless, highly dangerous vessel for the silver entity. His healing and destructive abilities establish him as a powerful new threat.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and social division: Media, political groups, and ideological factions exploit public fear and conflict, possibly according to a larger hidden plan.
• Freedom and emotional reconciliation: Luo’s release and Big Black’s reluctant reunion emphasize the personal cost of imprisonment, separation, and lost identity.
• The arrival of an alien or supernatural force: The silver entity’s descent suggests that Blue Star is being infiltrated by an unknown power.
• Dehumanization and loss of emotion: The transformed man retains his body but loses his former fear and humanity, becoming a calm instrument of destruction.
• Hidden powers behind visible events: The chapter contrasts public political turmoil with the much greater, more mysterious threat descending from space.

Character Interactions

• Niu Yun reacts skeptically to Shui Yanghua’s report and the growing extremism of both political camps.
• The two adjudicators treat Luo respectfully, congratulate him, and salute him upon his release, showing that they sympathize with his situation despite serving the Tribunal Hall.
• Luo and Big Black share a tense but deeply emotional reunion. Big Black’s simple address—“Dad”—breaks through their long separation.
• The transformed man has almost no meaningful dialogue; his interactions are instead violent demonstrations of power, killing those who approach and signaling that he is no longer governed by ordinary human emotions.

Chapter Summary: “Ma Xingkong Walked into the Trap”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In an Arena Zone of the Final Blade Federation, a coordinated five-person squad is attacked by a massive ball of light. The explosion severely injures or eliminates most of the group.
• A strange mercury-like substance emerges from the crater and engulfs the squad captain. After two minutes, he rises again with empty eyes, apparently under its control.
• The possessed captain destroys nearby monsters effortlessly and passes through a wall that mysteriously splits open for him, suggesting that the mercury grants him unusual powers or that he has become part of a larger force.
• At the Red Sun Border, Luo Fengshan and Big Black discuss the situation involving Fu Junlin, Fu Junting, Luo Caichi, and Yao Jinying. Luo Caichi has taken their mother, while Zhonghe Institute still holds Luo Caichi and Yao Jinying, making a rescue urgent.
• Luo Fengshan warns that Zhonghe Institute will exploit the Silent One’s foundation and use its masks to create further dangers. Their new military base also lacks economic resources and advanced technology.
• Big Black presents Fu Junlin’s plans for building an independent economic foundation through water production and the energy industry, particularly by controlling the supply of Glands from military forces. He also suggests acquiring advanced technologies through legitimate means and relying on his younger brother, Fu Junting, to steal less restricted technologies.
• Luo Fengshan is stunned by his sons’ abilities and recognizes that Fu Junlin and Fu Junting could provide the technological and strategic foundations needed for their organization.
• The group agrees that they must appear to act normally to avoid suspicion before rescuing their mother. Big Black remains puzzled about why she was taken.
• Shi Hongyu arrives with news that Ma Xingkong has come to meet them, accompanied by Sima Wugou. Big Black immediately prepares to confront him, while Luo Fengshan recognizes the name and hints at a complicated history.

Character Developments

• The Arena captain is transformed from a frightened, injured survivor into an emotionless, mercury-controlled entity with overwhelming destructive power.
• Luo Fengshan demonstrates caution and strategic awareness. Though worried about his family, he focuses on developing the organization’s economy, technology, and resistance capabilities. He also feels growing admiration and affection for his sons after seeing how capable they have become.
• Big Black/Fu Junlin shows confidence, ambition, and practical leadership. He has already begun planning water and energy projects and is thinking beyond immediate survival toward building a sustainable power base.
• Fu Junting is portrayed as a highly capable covert operator whose theft of industrial technology may become crucial to the organization’s development. His role in manipulating the current crisis also impresses and unsettles Luo Fengshan.
• Shi Hongyu functions as an important messenger and aide, informing Big Black and Luo Fengshan of Ma Xingkong’s arrival.
• Ma Xingkong is established as an anticipated adversary, provoking immediate hostility from Big Black.

Significant Themes

• Transformation and control: The mercury substance turns a defeated warrior into a weapon, suggesting the dangers of technological or biological control.
• Family reconciliation: Luo Fengshan and Fu Junlin have reunited, and past resentment has eased, but their family remains threatened by the abduction of their mother.
• Building power through infrastructure: Water, energy, technology, and industry are presented as essential weapons in a broader political and military struggle.
• Strategic deception: The characters must conceal their intentions and maintain appearances while preparing resistance and rescue operations.
• Inherited and developed talent: Luo Fengshan reflects on how extraordinary both of his sons have become, emphasizing the combination of family legacy, intelligence, and personal achievement.
• The cost of political conflict: Individual sacrifices and covert manipulations—such as Fu Junting’s actions and the use of a Subspecies as a trigger—are treated as necessary pieces in a much larger struggle.

Important Character Interactions

• Luo Fengshan and Big Black discuss their family, the threats posed by Zhonghe Institute, and plans for economic and technological independence.
• Luo Fengshan silently evaluates Big Black and reflects emotionally on how far his sons have surpassed his expectations.
• Big Black and Shi Hongyu exchange information about Ma Xingkong’s arrival, prompting Big Black to take action.
• Big Black and Ma Xingkong are set up for a forthcoming confrontation, with Big Black openly determined to face him.

Chapter Summary: “Ma Xingkong Finally Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Fengshan remains upstairs, observing while Big Black brings Shi Hongyu outside to meet Ma Xingkong and Sima Wugou.
• Ma Xingkong appears in a severely deteriorated state—unkempt, exhausted, and desperate—while Sima Wugou is thinner and more hostile.
• Ma Xingkong immediately demands the two remaining Energy Blocks, but Big Black grabs him by the collar and threatens him for previously disappearing and stealing one of the blocks.
• Ma Xingkong warns that the world is in danger: the ruins have been “lit up,” the Black Hand has likely discovered them, and an approaching war could destroy everything.
• Before explaining, Ma Xingkong asks for food. He and Sima Wugou devour more than sixty buns, while Big Black eats ten himself.
• Ma Xingkong explains that the Energy Blocks are keys to entering ruins and that the Ice Layer Ruins may contain the highest concentration of Energy Cores and possibly even more advanced energy forms.
• He reveals that he and Xiao entered another ruin using an Energy Block but barely survived. While inside, they detected violent energy fluctuations.
• Upon emerging, they found the ruin’s walls lowered and monsters gathering in large numbers. Similar changes were detected in multiple ruins.
• Ma Xingkong reveals that he invented a Ruin Monitor capable of tracking abnormal energy activity in ruins he has visited.
• He concludes that the Black Hand has exposed the ruins and is preparing to descend, possibly to drain their energy and restore its control over the “Pig-Farming Game.”
• Luo Fengshan enters at the end of the chapter, interrupting the discussion.

Character Developments

• Ma Xingkong is revealed to be resourceful but eccentric, combining serious knowledge with absurd behavior. Despite his battered appearance, he possesses important information about the ruins, the Energy Blocks, and the Black Hand.
• Sima Wugou appears protective of Ma Xingkong, instinctively shielding him from Fu Junlin and following him despite the danger. His harsher appearance suggests that their recent ordeal has changed him.
• Big Black remains aggressive and impatient, initially treating Ma Xingkong as an enemy, but quickly shifts into a more cooperative and almost friendly attitude once Ma Xingkong begins explaining the crisis.
• Shi Hongyu becomes increasingly impressed by Ma Xingkong’s abilities, especially his invention of the Ruin Monitor, though she is also bewildered by his strange personality.
• Fu Junlin remains largely inactive or mentally distant, with Big Black attempting to rouse his consciousness and compare Ma Xingkong’s behavior to Fu Junlin’s split personality.
• Luo Fengshan continues to observe events strategically and enters just as Ma Xingkong’s warning reaches its most serious point.

Significant Themes

• Impending catastrophe: The abnormal ruin activity and gathering monsters suggest that a large-scale conflict is imminent.
• Control versus resistance: The Black Hand may be attempting to reassert control over the rules governing humanity and the Pig-Farming Game.
• Human evolution and forbidden energy: Humans learning to use Energy Cores may be disrupting the Black Hand’s intended system of development.
• Knowledge as power: Ma Xingkong’s research and Ruin Monitor give him unique insight into threats that others cannot yet perceive.
• Comic relief amid danger: Ma Xingkong’s hunger, strange timing, and casual speech contrast with the apocalyptic information he delivers, keeping the chapter’s tone both tense and humorous.

Character Interactions

• Big Black confronts and physically intimidates Ma Xingkong, but the encounter turns humorous when Ma Xingkong asks for food instead of explaining himself.
• Sima Wugou attempts to protect Ma Xingkong but is unable to prevent Big Black from grabbing him.
• Big Black and Ma Xingkong move from hostility to camaraderie after sharing food.
• Shi Hongyu reacts with disbelief to Ma Xingkong’s behavior but listens seriously once he discusses the Energy Blocks and the Black Hand.
• Big Black questions Ma Xingkong repeatedly, forcing him to clarify the purpose of the Energy Blocks, his injuries, the ruin fluctuations, and the Black Hand’s possible plans.
• Luo Fengshan’s entrance marks the chapter’s closing interruption and suggests that the newly revealed crisis will soon involve him directly.