Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Do We Really Have to Fight?”

Key plot points and events

• Fu Junlin repairs Cheng Xiaoyu’s malfunctioning mecha in only five minutes by opening the lower back armor plate and inserting two buckles. The mecha returns to normal just before the second match.
• Senior Lin, who had tried to repair the mecha first in order to embarrass Fu Junlin, is humiliated when Fu Junlin succeeds effortlessly. Fu Junlin responds politely, making Senior Lin’s resentment worse.
• Cheng Xiaoyu returns to the arena and begins his next match against Wang Jintang. Fu Junlin stays to watch and explains the purpose of the Combat Arena to Big Black.
• The Combat Arena allows serious battles, challenge matches, prize money, ranking points, and fame. Big Black becomes eager to fight there.
• Fu Junlin and Big Black argue over Big Black’s boredom with studying and his desire to fight. Their argument nearly becomes a literal fight between the two personalities sharing Fu Junlin’s body.
• They eventually negotiate an agreement: Big Black may occasionally participate in challenge matches, but he must not interfere while Fu Junlin studies and must help him achieve his academic goals.
• Fu Junlin insists on remaining anonymous to avoid attracting attention or exposing abilities inconsistent with his current status. He reveals a distinctive black-and-white taiji mask with a sewn-shut mouth and a golden character on the forehead, suggesting Big Black will fight while concealed.

Character developments

• Fu Junlin demonstrates exceptional technical skill, repairing the mecha far more efficiently than Senior Lin could. He remains calm and polite despite Senior Lin’s hostility, showing confidence and emotional control.
• Senior Lin is revealed to be petty and immature. His attempt to show off backfires, leaving him resentful and embarrassed.
• Cheng Xiaoyu grows more appreciative of Fu Junlin after witnessing the repair. He recognizes that Fu Junlin’s method is both faster and more practical than Senior Lin’s.
• Big Black shows his impulsive, combative personality and frustration with Fu Junlin’s constant studying. At the same time, he acknowledges that he shares responsibility for Fu Junlin’s success and wants more freedom.
• Fu Junlin and Big Black begin moving toward a more cooperative relationship, establishing rules instead of simply fighting over control.

Significant themes

• Competence versus arrogance: Fu Junlin’s quiet ability exposes Senior Lin’s hollow confidence and desire for recognition.
• Cooperation and conflict within oneself: Fu Junlin and Big Black embody opposing desires—discipline and study versus freedom and combat—but must compromise because they share one body.
• Anonymity versus fame: Although the arena offers money and prestige, Fu Junlin fears attracting scrutiny and being treated as an experimental subject again.
• Practical ambition: Fu Junlin is motivated less by glory than by making money and living a stable life, while Big Black is drawn to excitement and battle.
• Rules and compromise: Their agreement shows that mutual boundaries may allow both personalities to pursue their goals.

Important character interactions

• Fu Junlin repairs Cheng Xiaoyu’s mecha and receives Cheng’s enthusiastic thanks.
• Fu Junlin politely thanks Senior Lin for “giving him the opportunity,” turning Senior Lin’s attempted humiliation back on him.
• Fu Junlin explains the Combat Arena to Big Black, sparking Big Black’s desire to fight.
• Fu Junlin and Big Black engage in a heated verbal battle before negotiating terms for Big Black’s participation.
• The chapter ends with Fu Junlin presenting the mask Big Black can use to fight anonymously.

Chapter Summary: “Silent One Mask”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin reveals a newly custom-made mask designed to conceal the Gene Particle on his forehead, which openly identifies him as a Subspecies. However, the mask’s design still leaves the mark partially visible.
• Big Black reads Fu Junlin’s thoughts without permission and discovers that Fu once considered secretly leaving at night to help people. Big Black teases him for being cowardly while still dreaming of improving the status of Subspecies.
• Fu explains that he originally wanted the mask so he could practice War Banner Art unnoticed. He rejects Big Black’s suggestion that he compete as a Fistmaster, pointing out that he already has recognizable clothing and multiple professions.
• Cheng Xiaoyu defeats Wang Jintang in a mecha battle by delivering a decisive slash that destroys the opponent’s Iron Bucket Warrior.
• Overjoyed by his victory and the hundred-thousand-yuan wager, Cheng Xiaoyu hugs and spins Fu Junlin around in celebration. Wang Jintang watches angrily, learning from Second Lin that Fu repaired Cheng Xiaoyu’s mecha and was instrumental in the victory.
• Cheng Xiaoyu gives Fu Junlin a valuable black membership card granting unlimited access to his family’s Gravity Room.
• Fu then learns that Cheng Xiaoyu won 100,000 yuan, far more than he expected. Worried that Wang Jintang may retaliate against him, Fu decides to take full advantage of Cheng Xiaoyu’s celebratory meal.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Shows a hidden desire to practice and possibly help change the social position of Subspecies, despite his insecurity and fear of attracting attention. He remains cautious and practical, immediately recognizing the danger posed by Wang Jintang’s resentment. His humorous decision to demand an extravagant instant-noodle meal highlights his opportunistic side.
• Big Black: Continues to act as a teasing, intrusive companion, but his mockery also reveals genuine respect for Fu Junlin’s courage and ideals.
• Cheng Xiaoyu: Gains confidence and emotional relief after defeating Wang Jintang. His victory restores his dignity and allows him to stand up for the girl he secretly loves. He also proves himself generous by giving Fu the Gravity Room card and treating him to dinner.
• Wang Jintang: Suffers a humiliating defeat and becomes increasingly hostile toward Fu Junlin after learning that Fu’s repairs helped Cheng Xiaoyu win.

Significant Themes

• Discrimination and identity: Fu’s mask reflects the danger and stigma associated with being a Subspecies, while his thoughts suggest a broader wish to change society’s treatment of people like him.
• Courage versus fear: Although Fu considers himself cowardly, he still dreams of helping others and challenging the status quo.
• Dignity and revenge: Cheng Xiaoyu’s victory is not merely a competition win; it is an act of reclaiming personal dignity. Conversely, Wang Jintang’s humiliation fuels his desire for retaliation.
• Friendship and mutual benefit: Fu helps Cheng Xiaoyu repair his mecha, while Cheng repays him with access to the Gravity Room and a celebratory meal.
• Comedy amid tension: Big Black’s teasing and Fu’s concern over being properly fed provide humor despite the growing threat from Wang Jintang.

Character Interactions

• Big Black invades Fu Junlin’s thoughts and mocks his secret ambitions, while Fu angrily warns him not to pry.
• Cheng Xiaoyu enthusiastically celebrates his victory with Fu, physically embracing him and later rewarding him with the Gravity Room card.
• Second Lin informs Wang Jintang that Fu’s repairs enabled Cheng Xiaoyu’s victory, directly linking Fu to Wang’s humiliation.
• Fu and Cheng leave together for food, with Fu privately planning to exploit Cheng’s generous mood while worrying about the consequences of Wang Jintang’s anger.

Chapter Summary: “Still Can’t Use It”

Plot and key events

Fu Junlin goes to the gym early using Cheng Xiaoyu’s Black Card, hoping to access the Gravity Room. The gym is crowded because of a membership promotion, forcing him to wait nearly two hours before the facility becomes quieter. When he presents the card to Xiaoli at the front desk, she suspects he stole it and threatens to call Cheng Xiaoyu. Cheng confirms by phone that he lent Fu the card and authorizes him to use the gym’s facilities.
However, President Cheng—Cheng Xiaoyu’s uncle—appears after noticing the card being swiped. Although he acknowledges that the card is genuine, he refuses to let Fu use the Gravity Room, claiming that it requires maintenance and demanding the card back. Fu hands it over without arguing and leaves in the elevator, still unable to use the room.

Character developments

Fu remains cautious and restrained. Despite feeling humiliated by Xiaoli’s suspicion and angered by President Cheng’s arbitrary refusal, he controls himself and avoids provoking a fight. His awareness that acting without “Intent” would be foolish shows his growing discipline and judgment.
Cheng Xiaoyu is revealed to be generous and careless, freely lending Fu his privileged Black Card without properly informing the gym staff. President Cheng is authoritative, suspicious, and protective of the Gravity Room, especially because Fu is a Subspecies. Xiaoli is distrustful and somewhat antagonistic toward Fu, even after his authorization is confirmed. Big Black continues to represent Fu’s aggressive inner voice, urging him to retaliate.

Significant themes

The chapter highlights social hierarchy and discrimination, as Fu’s status as a Subspecies causes President Cheng to distrust and restrict him despite his legitimate access. It also explores self-control versus aggression: Fu’s ability to suppress Big Black’s violent impulses contrasts with the humiliation and anger he experiences. The Black Card symbolizes privilege and access, but the chapter shows that social power and prejudice can still override formal permission.

Character interactions

Fu clashes with Xiaoli over the authenticity of the Black Card, though Cheng Xiaoyu’s phone call proves him legitimate. President Cheng then confronts Fu, questions his relationship with Xiaoyu, and denies him access to the Gravity Room. Fu chooses not to challenge him and exits silently, while Big Black mocks him for appearing cowardly.

Chapter Summary: Weapon City

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin visits Weapon City, a fifty-floor weapons and equipment market beside Flying Cloud Vine School.
• He is shopping for Big Black, who will compete as a Fistmaster and therefore needs profession-grade gauntlets.
• The chapter explains that Fistmaster gauntlets enhance physical attacks through effects such as Energy Vibration and Sonic Vibration. Fistmasters are especially powerful in close combat, with only Precision-Kill Style Mecha Masters able to rival their burst damage.
• Because Fu Junlin has not yet learned how to manufacture such equipment, he searches the lowest floors for an affordable pair.
• He learns about the relationship between equipment restrictions and Palm Energy cultivation. Higher-level practitioners possess denser Palm Energy, which can destroy weaker equipment, while lower-level users cannot properly activate higher-grade weapons.
• Fu Junlin finds a secondhand bronze pair of gauntlets rated for Entry-Level Two to Level-Two Master. Though rusty and corroded on the outside, the gauntlets’ interiors remain in excellent condition.
• The shopkeeper refuses to lower the listed price of 1,500 yuan but agrees to sell them for 1,350 yuan.
• Fu Junlin then purchases cleaning supplies. After aggressively bargaining down the price of a 380-yuan cleaning set to 38 yuan, he also persuades the seller to polish the gauntlets.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin is shown as practical, experienced, and highly budget-conscious. He understands equipment quality well enough to recognize that the secondhand gauntlets are still functional despite their poor appearance.
• His confident bargaining reveals familiarity with Weapon City and a willingness to challenge merchants without wasting money.
• Big Black remains offscreen, but his upcoming competition motivates Fu Junlin’s shopping trip and emphasizes his preparation and support for his companion.
• The two shopkeepers contrast with Fu Junlin: the first is indifferent and reluctant to negotiate, while the second is enthusiastic but quickly overwhelmed by Fu Junlin’s extreme bargaining.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and resourcefulness: Fu Junlin equips Big Black effectively while working within a limited budget.
• Power and technological hierarchy: The explanation of Palm Energy density shows how cultivation levels determine the use and durability of weapons.
• Appearance versus true value: The rusty gauntlets look damaged but remain structurally sound, demonstrating that outward condition does not always reflect usefulness.
• Economic pragmatism: Secondhand equipment and aggressive negotiation are presented as sensible ways to obtain powerful tools.
• Specialization in combat: Different professions require distinct equipment, and each has unique strengths and limitations in Arena Zone battles.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin initially receives little attention from the bearded weapons merchant, who tells him to inspect the shelves himself.
• He examines the bronze gauntlets and negotiates directly with the merchant, ultimately accepting the 1,350-yuan price.
• At the cleaning counter, the seller enthusiastically promotes an expensive cleaning set. Fu Junlin cuts through the sales pitch, insists on paying only 38 yuan, and gets polishing included.
• The interactions highlight Fu Junlin’s blunt, confident personality and his ability to control commercial negotiations.

Summary: “Cheng Xiaoyu’s Decision”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin has his corroded gloves professionally cleaned and polished. When the shop owner cannot make change for his fifty, he gives Fu an inexpensive cleaning solution instead, creating an awkward but humorous exchange.
• Cheng Xiaoyu calls Fu and apologizes for what happened earlier. After learning that Fu was prevented from entering the Gravity Room, Cheng firmly promises to come to the gym and ensure Fu can use it.
• Fu doubts Cheng will truly challenge his uncle, expecting him to make a public show of support before retreating to avoid worsening the conflict.
• Cheng arrives at the gym angry and immediately confronts his uncle, demanding to know why Fu cannot use the black card Cheng gave him.
• Cheng’s uncle argues that the Gravity Room cannot be used by just anyone and resents Fu’s access as a Subspecies. Cheng counters that the gym belongs to his family and that his authority should matter.
• The confrontation becomes public. Cheng threatens to expose his uncle’s corruption, including false promotions, manipulated accounts, and illegally discounted point cards used to siphon money.
• Secretary Li, sent by Cheng’s father to investigate the uncle’s financial misconduct, arrives during the argument. Cheng explains that he promised Fu access and refuses to break his word.
• Cheng frames the dispute as an issue of racial equality, questioning why Subspecies remain barred from the Gravity Room despite Federation policies against discrimination.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin remains cautious and socially uncomfortable. Although grateful for Cheng’s support, he worries that Cheng’s confrontation will create an embarrassing scene and doubts whether he should actually use the Gravity Room afterward.
• Cheng Xiaoyu reveals a much more forceful and principled side than his usual cheerful personality. He is willing to oppose his uncle publicly, honor his promise, and defend Fu despite the social and family consequences.
• Cheng’s uncle is portrayed as arrogant, dishonest, and defensive. He attempts to justify the discriminatory rule while also trying to conceal his financial misconduct.
• Secretary Li is established as a respected authority within the Cheng family. Cheng normally listens to him, suggesting that Li’s arrival significantly weakens Cheng’s aggressive momentum.
• Big Black provides comic commentary, especially by misusing idioms while praising Cheng’s loyalty.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty: Cheng demonstrates that keeping his promise to Fu matters more to him than avoiding family conflict.
• Racial discrimination: The ban on Subspecies using the Gravity Room is presented as an unjust rule that conflicts with the Federation’s stated commitment to equality.
• Integrity versus corruption: Cheng’s defense of Fu is linked to his exposure of his uncle’s dishonest business practices.
• Family power and responsibility: The conflict reveals internal tensions within the Cheng family, especially between legitimate authority and an uncle exploiting his position.
• Public reputation and personal conviction: Fu worries about causing a scene, while Cheng chooses to act openly and decisively according to his principles.

Character Interactions

• Fu and the shop owner share a mildly comic negotiation over payment and the extra cleaning solution.
• Fu and Cheng speak as close friends; Cheng apologizes, reassures Fu, and promises to defend him.
• Fu and Big Black exchange sarcastic remarks, with Fu criticizing Big Black’s incorrect idiom usage.
• Cheng and his uncle engage in a heated public argument over Fu’s access to the Gravity Room and the uncle’s corruption.
• Cheng and Secretary Li have a more restrained but significant interaction: Cheng explains his actions and appeals to equality, while Li’s presence reminds him of his family obligations and authority structure.

Chapter Summary: “Subspecies Exclusive”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Xiaoyu publicly challenges the gym’s refusal to let Fu Junlin use a Gravity Room because he is a Subspecies.
• Secretary Li warns that there is no precedent for allowing Subspecies access and urges Cheng Xiaoyu to wait for an official decision. Cheng’s uncle firmly refuses unless Cheng’s father gives permission.
• In response, Cheng Xiaoyu claims one of the three Gravity Rooms for Subspecies use. He posts a sign reading “Subspecies Only!” and declares that Superior Humans and Mighty-Species people will be barred from it permanently.
• His dramatic act sparks overwhelming support from the students. Subspecies students cheer enthusiastically, while even many Superior Humans join in, turning the moment into a public demonstration for racial equality.
• Cheng Xiaoyu’s uncle angrily leaves, unable to oppose the decision without creating an even larger conflict. Secretary Li realizes that Cheng Xiaoyu’s status as the owner’s son makes the decision difficult to overturn.
• Fu Junlin is deeply moved by Cheng Xiaoyu’s defense of him, silently thanking him. However, embarrassed by the attention, Fu postpones entering the Gravity Room until the gym is nearly empty.
• Later that evening, Fu Junlin finally trains in the Gravity Room for ninety minutes. The training places intense pressure on his organs, skin, heart, and lungs, complementing rather than replacing his normal muscle-focused exercises.
• After leaving the gym, Fu walks toward the dangerous Red Carpet District. Exhausted and unusually hungry, he stops at a roadside stall for fried noodles.
• At the stall, he notices two Superior Human men drunkenly groping two Subspecies women, but initially remains silent and waits for his food.

Character Developments

• Cheng Xiaoyu proves that he is more courageous, principled, and politically aware than others—including Fu Junlin—had assumed. His willingness to confront his uncle publicly marks a major break from his earlier image as a spoiled, approval-seeking heir.
• Fu Junlin gains greater respect for Cheng Xiaoyu and recognizes the personal risk Cheng takes on his behalf. Fu also begins using more advanced training methods, demonstrating discipline and physical endurance.
• Fu Junlin’s uncle is exposed as openly prejudiced and authoritarian. His anger reveals that his concern is not merely procedure but maintaining racial exclusion.
• Secretary Li remains cautious and pragmatic, but he recognizes that Cheng Xiaoyu’s demand is legally and socially difficult to reverse.
• The students collectively become an important social force, showing that public solidarity can challenge discriminatory systems.

Significant Themes

• Racial discrimination and equality: The Gravity Room dispute exposes institutional prejudice against Subspecies and turns a private act of exclusion into a public confrontation.
• Courageous resistance: Cheng Xiaoyu uses his privilege and authority to oppose discrimination rather than benefiting silently from it.
• Public opinion and social change: The students’ cheers demonstrate how collective support can make discriminatory policies politically untenable.
• Privilege and responsibility: Cheng Xiaoyu’s family position gives him power, but he chooses to use it on behalf of someone with less social standing.
• Physical and personal growth: Fu’s demanding training reflects his broader development and preparation for future challenges.
• Danger beneath ordinary life: The peaceful gym victory contrasts with the lawless nighttime atmosphere of the Red Carpet District, where violence and exploitation remain common.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Xiaoyu confronts Secretary Li and his uncle, transforming their refusal into a public debate over discrimination.
• His bold announcement inspires the students and earns Fu Junlin’s silent gratitude.
• Secretary Li’s restrained response contrasts with Cheng Xiaoyu’s impulsive but effective defiance.
• Fu Junlin and Cheng Xiaoyu cooperate by delaying the training session until the crowd disperses.
• At the food stall, Fu observes the disturbing interaction between the Superior Human men and the Subspecies women, setting up a likely conflict in the next scene.

Chapter Summary: “Strange Young Man”

Plot and events

Fu Junlin eats noodles at a street stall after a tiring day. At a nearby table, two Superior Human men viciously harass two Subspecies women. One man drags a woman by her hair, forces her toward him, and chokes her when she resists, while the other restrains her companion. The noodle-stall owners notice but deliberately avoid intervening.
Big Black, the powerful presence within Fu Junlin, urges him to help, but Fu Junlin refuses, fearing legal consequences and retaliation from the Superior Humans. Their argument escalates until Big Black begins forcibly taking control of Fu Junlin’s body. As the conflict continues, Fu Junlin starts speaking aloud while pounding the table uncontrollably, creating a loud disturbance that draws the men’s attention.

Character development

Fu Junlin is shown as cautious, fearful, and deeply concerned about the consequences of opposing Superior Humans. Although he identifies with the persecuted Subspecies, he initially chooses self-preservation over intervention. Big Black acts as his moral conscience and represents courage, strength, and resistance against injustice. Their internal conflict reveals Fu Junlin’s growing physical dependence on Big Black and the increasing difficulty of maintaining control over his own body.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes social inequality, discrimination, and the abuse of power by Superior Humans against Subspecies. It also explores the conflict between moral responsibility and self-preservation, as well as the consequences of remaining silent in the face of oppression. The struggle between Fu Junlin and Big Black mirrors the larger battle between fear and resistance.

Character interactions

The two Superior Human men intimidate and assault the two women, while the women desperately resist and plead for mercy. The stall owners silently observe but refuse to become involved. Inside Fu Junlin, Big Black challenges his passivity and demands action, leading to a heated argument and a physical struggle for control. The chapter ends with Fu Junlin’s body visibly rebelling—his arm repeatedly slamming the table—causing the attackers to turn their attention toward him and setting up a confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “You’re Also a Lower Life-Form”

Plot and Major Events

In a restaurant, a skinny middle-aged Superior Human insults Fu Junlin by calling him a “Subspecies dog.” Fu ignores him, preoccupied with restraining Big Black, the violent consciousness or force within his mind. The skinny man grows increasingly enraged and overturns Fu’s food. Fu finally warns him to leave, but the man slaps him, knocking him and the table to the ground. Believing Fu has been defeated, the man prepares to beat him further. However, Fu begins laughing uncontrollably, revealing that a grotesque mask marked with the Subspecies symbol has appeared on his face. His restrained right hand is now free, signaling that Big Black—or another dangerous aspect of Fu—has taken control. When the attacker kicks at him, Fu dodges and instantly retaliates, stabbing two chopsticks through the man’s cheek. He declares that, from his perspective, the supposedly superior humans are also “lower life-forms.”

Character Developments

Fu Junlin shifts from barely containing his anger and struggling to control Big Black to becoming frighteningly calm and aggressive. His self-restraint collapses after the assault, allowing his darker, more powerful side to emerge. The mask and eerie laughter symbolize this transformation. The skinny middle-aged man’s confidence turns into shock and terror when Fu unexpectedly fights back, exposing his vulnerability despite his status as a Superior Human. Big Black is portrayed as impulsive and violent, while Fu attempts—unsuccessfully—to moderate his actions.

Character Interactions

The skinny man repeatedly humiliates and provokes Fu, while the fat Superior Human silently supports him. Fu initially refuses to engage, arguing internally with Big Black rather than responding to the insults. After being attacked, however, Fu reverses the power dynamic and seriously injures the skinny man. Their confrontation centers on the hierarchy between Superior Humans and Subspecies, with Fu rejecting that hierarchy through both violence and his final taunt.

Significant Themes

The chapter explores oppression, social hierarchy, and the hypocrisy of those who label others as inferior. The Superior Humans’ cruelty reflects their belief that Subspecies are beneath them, but Fu’s sudden retaliation undermines their sense of dominance. It also highlights the danger of suppressed rage and divided identity, as Fu’s attempt to control Big Black ultimately gives way to a violent transformation.

Chapter Summary: “Witnesses”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Big Black takes control of Fu Junlin’s body during a confrontation with two middle-aged Superior Humans.
• He brutally kills the skinny man by stabbing a chopstick through his tongue and neck.
• When the plumper man attacks with a broadsword, Fu Junlin/Big Black evades him and repeatedly punches his energy shield. After several seconds of sustained assault, the shield breaks, and the man is killed by a punch to the head.
• Two women and a shopkeeper couple witness the murders, while an unknown blond youth secretly records the incident on his phone.
• Fu Junlin flees before searching the corpses for their equipment and hides in a dark alley. He removes his mask and confronts Big Black about the violence.
• Big Black argues that Fu Junlin secretly wanted the men dead and that their shared “dark side” was responsible for the rampage.
• Terrified of being exposed and of endangering his mother and younger brother, Fu Junlin avoids going home, later returns, and spends the night imagining possible legal consequences.
• The next morning, no police arrive. A news report reveals that the two victims were Superior Humans and that four witnesses described the killer as a person wearing a black spider mask with a white spider tattoo.
• The report classifies the incident as a likely revenge attack and warns citizens to avoid the area at night.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin is shaken by the killings and overwhelmed by guilt, fear, and paranoia. Although he claims not to have wanted the murders, he recognizes that Big Black’s accusation contains some truth: he harbored resentment toward the victims and did not resist the violence as strongly as he might have.
• Big Black becomes increasingly merged with Fu Junlin psychologically and physically. His control of the body exposes a violent, reckless side that appears to come from both of them rather than from Big Black alone.
• Fu Junlin’s priorities remain centered on protecting his family. His fear of arrest is matched by his fear that his mother and younger brother could be harmed or implicated.
• The unnamed blond youth is established as a potentially important witness and source of evidence because he records the murders.

Significant Themes

• The duality of human nature: Big Black’s violence may be extreme, but it reflects impulses Fu Junlin himself partly shares.
• Loss of control and moral responsibility: Fu Junlin must question whether he can excuse the murders as Big Black’s actions when he allowed the body and mind to be overtaken.
• Fear and paranoia: After the killings, ordinary sounds and movements make Fu Junlin expect the police, showing the psychological burden of guilt.
• Witnesses and evidence: The survivors, the secret recording, and the news report establish that Fu Junlin’s identity may eventually be uncovered.
• Protection versus self-preservation: Fu Junlin considers surrendering, but only after ensuring his family will not suffer because of him.

Character Interactions

• Big Black’s control transforms Fu Junlin’s encounter with the two Superior Humans into a one-sided execution.
• The plumper man attempts to avenge his companion, but his attack is overwhelmed by Fu Junlin’s physical endurance and relentless punching.
• The two women and the shopkeeper couple do not intervene; they hide in terror, becoming witnesses rather than participants.
• Fu Junlin and Big Black argue afterward, with Big Black accusing Fu Junlin of sharing the desire to kill and Fu Junlin struggling to deny it.
• Fu Junlin’s mother calls to ask why he is late, briefly pulling him back toward normal family life despite his panic.
• The public news report confirms the crime and unknowingly intensifies Fu Junlin’s fear that the witnesses and recording will expose him.

Chapter Summary: “I’ve Got My Eye on You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• News reports describe the Red Carpet District killings, but four witnesses falsely claim that the masked killer wore a completely black mask with a scorpion on it. In reality, Fu Junlin’s mask had a black-and-white taiji design and the character “Subspecies” on the forehead.
• Fu realizes the witnesses deliberately coordinated their stories to protect him. Since they were also Subspecies, they apparently chose to repay him for helping two women and ensure he would not be arrested.
• Relieved that he has escaped prison, Fu reflects on how easily deaths in the Red Carpet District are forgotten.
• At school, Fu discovers that Wang Jintang and his friends have stolen his mecha textbook and blacked out all his handwritten notes with permanent marker, ruining it.
• Wang confronts and mocks Fu, reminding him that Fu’s assistance helped Cheng Xiaoyu win a match and cost Wang one hundred thousand. He declares that Fu will be his primary target for all four years of college and threatens to make his life miserable.
• Fu suppresses his anger because fighting back would bring serious consequences. Although Wang interprets Fu’s silence as cowardice, Fu privately resolves to deal with him in his own way.
• Qiao Zishu notices Fu’s distress at the gym and offers support. She suggests reporting Wang to Teacher Shi Hongyu, but Fu refuses, believing it would attract attention and make him appear weak.
• Fu tells Qiao that he will solve the problem himself and asks her to wait and see.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Experiences relief and gratitude after realizing the witnesses protected him, but soon faces renewed pressure at school. He demonstrates restraint and strategic thinking by refusing to fight or report Wang immediately, while his anger and determination reveal that he is not truly helpless.
• Wang Jintang: Emerges as a vindictive bully who holds a grudge against Fu for Cheng Xiaoyu’s victory. He uses public humiliation and intimidation to establish dominance.
• Qiao Zishu: Shows concern and loyalty toward Fu. She is willing to intervene and seek help, revealing her protective nature, though she recognizes her limited ability to confront Wang directly.
• The four witnesses: Their coordinated false testimony suggests that Fu’s actions have earned him unexpected solidarity from others in the Subspecies community.
• Big Black: Provides darkly comic relief by saying he wanted to see what prison was like, contrasting Fu’s genuine fear with his bizarre curiosity.

Significant Themes

• Solidarity and repayment: The witnesses protect Fu because he helped members of their group, suggesting mutual aid among outsiders.
• Violence and moral numbness: Fu’s observation that daily deaths are forgotten like stray cats highlights the Red Carpet District’s brutality and society’s indifference to it.
• Bullying and power: Wang uses threats, humiliation, and social pressure rather than immediate physical violence to control Fu and establish superiority.
• Restraint versus retaliation: Fu’s refusal to fight is not simple cowardice; he understands the consequences and begins planning a more calculated response.
• Appearances and deception: The false descriptions of Fu’s mask and Wang’s attempt to portray Fu as weak both show how easily public perception can be manipulated.

Character Interactions

• The witnesses’ coordinated statements indirectly protect Fu and demonstrate their connection to him.
• Wang and his friends humiliate Fu by destroying his textbook and threaten him in front of the class.
• Fu remains outwardly quiet but internally resists Wang’s intimidation.
• Qiao confronts Fu about the bullying, offers practical help, and encourages him to report Wang.
• Fu rejects her suggestion, explaining that he intends to handle the matter independently, creating an emotional contrast between Qiao’s concern and Fu’s guarded determination.

Chapter Summary

Plot and events

Fu Junlin discusses his unfinished Mecha Master assignment with Qiao Zishu. While most students only aim to meet the minimum requirements, he is taking extra time to design a practical, battle-ready mecha. Qiao teases him for being overly ambitious, and their playful exchange ends with her stomping on his foot before heading to training.
Later, Fu Junlin visits the factory and meets Wang Kai, who reveals that Zhang Cheng plans to open a branch factory on Hive Street. Wang Kai will temporarily manage the current factory and intends to give Fu Junlin a small supervisory position. Fu Junlin is pleased by the news and congratulates him on his implied promotion.
Wang Kai then nervously asks about Fu Junlin’s mother, revealing that he may be interested in pursuing her romantically. Fu Junlin questions him bluntly and refuses to help him court her, though he admits he would not interfere if his mother genuinely liked Wang Kai and Wang Kai treated her well. Wang Kai is delighted by this tacit approval.
After working overtime, Fu Junlin returns home to a hot meal prepared by his mother, then continues working on his mecha blueprints. After producing over thirty pages of detailed designs, he finishes the planning stage and prepares to begin purchasing parts. However, Big Black immediately criticizes the strange-looking design, ending the chapter on a humorous cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Fu Junlin demonstrates ambition, patience, and a strong sense of responsibility. He wants to create a genuinely useful combat mecha rather than merely complete an assignment. He also shows protectiveness toward his mother while remaining open-minded about her potentially finding happiness with someone else.
• Qiao Zishu maintains a playful, teasing relationship with Fu Junlin, though she also challenges his tendency to overreach.
• Wang Kai is revealed to have romantic feelings for Fu Junlin’s mother. His normally confident demeanor becomes nervous and awkward, but he is encouraged by Fu Junlin’s lack of outright opposition.
• Fu Junlin’s mother remains mostly off-page, though her care is shown through the hot meal she leaves for him.
• Big Black acts as a blunt critic, questioning Fu Junlin’s unusual design.

Significant themes

• Ambition versus practicality: Fu Junlin refuses to settle for the minimum and aims to create something genuinely functional.
• Family and protection: His reaction to Wang Kai reflects his concern for his mother, balanced against his recognition that she deserves personal happiness.
• Hard work and craftsmanship: The extensive blueprints highlight Fu Junlin’s dedication and meticulous approach.
• Romance and comedic embarrassment: Wang Kai’s nervous interest in Fu Junlin’s mother provides a lighthearted contrast to the technical and familial plotlines.

Character interactions

• Fu Junlin and Qiao Zishu exchange playful teasing, with Qiao physically reprimanding him after he jokes about her progress.
• Fu Junlin and Wang Kai share a warm but comedic exchange about factory promotions and Wang Kai’s romantic intentions. Fu Junlin interrogates him like a suspicious son, while Wang Kai eagerly seeks his approval.
• Fu Junlin interacts indirectly with his mother through the meal she prepares, and his thoughts show his concern for her well-being.
• Big Black’s final blunt criticism challenges Fu Junlin’s confidence in his completed design.

Chapter Summary: “You’ve Gone Astray”

Plot and key events

Fu Junlin presents a mecha design based on the dynamics and mechanical principles he has learned. Big Black criticizes the design as powerful enough for an assignment but fundamentally flawed—a “dead end”—because applying theory without a suitable structural basis will create increasing problems as the machine becomes more precise. Big Black advises Fu Junlin to model the mecha on the human body, arguing that humans are the most practical combat form available for study and that a precise mechanical imitation could surpass human physical limitations. Fu Junlin rejects this approach, believing that copying humanity would impose a fixed ceiling on the mecha’s potential. He argues that creating a new form from first principles could eventually surpass humans, tigers, and other existing creatures. Big Black then challenges his assumptions by asking whether Fu Junlin, with only 4.5% of his Gene Lock unlocked, truly understands humanity’s ultimate limits.

Character development

Fu Junlin is shown to be independent, ambitious, and willing to challenge conventional methods. Although he listens to Big Black’s criticism, he refuses to abandon his vision merely because it is difficult. His belief in limitless scientific innovation becomes clearer, but he also begins to confront the possibility that his understanding of human potential is incomplete. Big Black, usually unserious and argumentative, becomes earnest and technically focused, emphasizing practicality, proven biological design, and the importance of working from an existing model.

Character interactions

The chapter centers on a heated debate between Fu Junlin and Big Black. Big Black accuses Fu Junlin of “going astray” and being stubborn, while Fu Junlin turns the accusation back on him. Their argument reveals mutual familiarity and contrasting philosophies: Big Black favors efficient imitation and established principles, whereas Fu Junlin favors experimentation and unrestricted innovation. Despite their disagreement, both are seriously engaged in improving the mecha.

Significant themes

The chapter explores innovation versus imitation, the value and danger of theoretical knowledge, and whether existing biological forms represent limits or foundations for progress. It also raises the theme of human potential: Fu Junlin assumes humanity has a definable ceiling, while Big Black suggests that humanity’s true capabilities remain unknown because Fu Junlin has unlocked only a small fraction of his Gene Lock.

Chapter Summary: Preparing to Turn In the Assignment

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin suddenly realizes that he has misunderstood the purpose of his assignment. After being reminded of the Gene Lock, particularly abilities such as Biological Vision and localized muscle enhancement, he recognizes that he has been pursuing overly advanced combat transformations without first mastering the fundamentals of the human body.
• He is furious at Big Black for not pointing this out earlier, especially after spending five days developing complex blueprints based on biomechanical formulas. Big Black admits that he only understood Fu Junlin’s intentions after seeing the finished designs and had mistakenly thought the formulas were meaningless sketches.
• The following morning, Fu Junlin encounters Wang Kai sweeping outside the factory. Their exchange is sarcastic and hostile but familiar. Fu Junlin also trades jokes with his younger brother, Fu Junting, before leaving for school.
• At school, another student submits a poor transforming mecha boar. Although it has booster devices, it reaches only a Force Intensity of 1 and is rejected for revision. The class ridicules the design.
• Wang Jintang continues trying to humiliate Fu Junlin. He loudly calls for him after class, knowing Fu Junlin is nearby, and Fu Junlin avoids responding to prevent further harassment. Other students interpret his behavior as cowardice.
• For nine days, Fu Junlin appears to be the only student who has not submitted the assignment. Rumors spread that Wang Jintang’s bullying has mentally overwhelmed him.
• In reality, Fu Junlin completed the assignment by the sixth day and spent the remaining time debugging and refining it. He intentionally delays submission because he believes quality matters more than being early, and submitting last may attract greater attention.
• On the tenth day, more than a thousand first-year Mecha Department students gather on the training field for the assignment evaluation. Over twenty teachers, including Shi Hongyu, attend to inspect the students’ work.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin experiences a major intellectual breakthrough. He shifts from chasing flashy, powerful combat forms to focusing on the fundamental potential of the human body and the Gene Lock. His anger at wasted effort is balanced by his growing confidence in the improved assignment.
• Big Black is shown to possess useful insight but poor awareness and communication skills. His accidental misunderstanding of Fu Junlin’s formulas causes Fu Junlin’s frustration, though their relationship remains comedic and familiar.
• Wang Kai continues acting as though he is casually working around the factory, but his behavior suggests he is trying to encounter someone there. His interactions with Fu Junlin and Fu Junting reveal an ongoing, teasing familiarity with the brothers.
• Wang Jintang remains committed to bullying and publicly embarrassing Fu Junlin. His harassment contributes to the false impression that Fu Junlin is weak or incapable.
• Fu Junting is portrayed as cheerful, playful, and comfortable around the factory workers, contrasting with Fu Junlin’s irritation and guardedness.

Significant Themes

• Fundamentals versus superficial advancement: Fu Junlin realizes that true strength comes from understanding and developing basic abilities rather than immediately pursuing complicated transformations.
• Patience and refinement: The chapter emphasizes that completing an assignment first is less important than producing high-quality work through testing and debugging.
• Appearances versus reality: Other students believe Fu Junlin is failing because he has not submitted his work, while the truth is that he has carefully completed and improved it.
• Bullying and public reputation: Wang Jintang’s harassment shapes how others perceive Fu Junlin, forcing him to endure humiliation while quietly preparing to prove himself.
• Talent recognition and competition: The assignment serves as an important test that may influence scholarships, teacher attention, and future opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Fu Junlin and Big Black argue humorously over the missed insight about the Gene Lock, with Fu Junlin blaming Big Black for his wasted effort.
• Fu Junlin exchanges sarcastic remarks with Wang Kai, who urges him to leave for school while pretending not to be waiting for someone.
• Fu Junting joins in the teasing, irritating Wang Kai before rushing to school.
• Wang Jintang attempts to provoke Fu Junlin publicly, but Fu Junlin avoids confrontation.
• The teachers gather together, including Shi Hongyu, preparing to judge the students’ assignments and determine who stands out.

Summary of “Being Bet On”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Mecha Department begins its freshman practical assessment. Students must use their assignment mechas to attack energy barriers generated by detectors.
• The test primarily measures offensive capability, with a Force Intensity of 2 required to pass. Students’ scores are recorded by twenty teachers and combined into a live ranking.
• Early participants achieve Force Intensities ranging from 2 to 4. A heavy-hammer humanoid mecha reaches 4 but receives little special attention.
• Fu Junlin anxiously waits for his turn while checking the rankings. His friend Cheng Xiaoyu reveals that Fu has been included in an unofficial betting pool, with odds of 1:9.
• Fu is one of five freshmen considered potential winners, alongside favored students such as Zhang Beishan and Chu Yunhan. Although many classmates view Fu as cowardly, his previous work with a sniper rifle and his ability to repair advanced mechas have earned him recognition as a talented Mecha Master.
• Wang Jintang confronts Fu and threatens him, ordering him to deliberately achieve only the minimum Force Intensity of 2 and lose the assessment. He promises to leave Fu alone if he complies.
• Cheng Xiaoyu defends Fu verbally, but recognizes that directly escalating the conflict could put Fu in greater danger.
• Wang’s threat is motivated by financial desperation: he borrowed heavily to bet on Zhang Beishan, whose earlier mecha test achieved Force Intensity 7. Wang expects Zhang’s modified mecha to win and cannot afford to lose the wager.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Revealed to be nervous but outwardly composed. His reputation is complicated: classmates criticize his timid personality, yet acknowledge his mechanical talent and past accomplishments. His inclusion in the betting pool suggests he is more capable and respected than he realizes.
• Cheng Xiaoyu: Acts as Fu’s supportive friend and tries to lighten the tension with jokes. He is willing to defend Fu but understands the risks of provoking Wang Jintang.
• Wang Jintang: Shown as vindictive, intimidating, and financially reckless. His threatening behavior is driven not only by hostility toward Fu but also by his desperate need for Zhang Beishan to win.
• Zhang Beishan: Established as the leading favorite after previously achieving an impressive Force Intensity of 7. His mecha has since been modified, increasing expectations for his performance.
• Chu Yunhan: Mentioned as another major contender, though not yet directly involved in the events.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus reputation: Fu’s timid image causes others to underestimate him, despite his demonstrated technical abilities.
• Pressure and competition: The assessment is shaped not only by academic ranking but also by scholarships, public expectations, and gambling.
• Bullying and coercion: Wang attempts to control Fu through threats, exploiting Fu’s vulnerability and social position.
• Risk and desperation: Wang’s reckless borrowing and betting show how personal ambition and financial pressure can intensify rivalries.
• Hidden ability: The betting odds and Fu’s past achievements suggest that his true capabilities may exceed what his classmates expect.

Character Interactions

• Cheng teases Fu about his nervousness and shows him the betting slip, revealing that Fu has become a recognized contender.
• Wang Jintang and his lackeys intimidate Fu, demanding that he intentionally lose.
• Cheng confronts Wang and warns him not to harm Fu, but Wang responds with mockery and veiled threats.
• Fu remains calm and silent during Wang’s intimidation, contrasting with Wang’s aggression and suggesting that Fu may not be as helpless as others believe.

Chapter Summary: “Favorite to Win”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Jintang finishes threatening Fu Junlin and leaves with his followers, deliberately provoking Cheng Xiaoyu.
• Cheng Xiaoyu angrily promises to retaliate if Wang harms Fu, though Fu Junlin privately worries that Cheng’s words may escalate the conflict.
• Fu gives Cheng 2,000 yuan and tells him to bet on Fu’s victory in the Mecha assessment. This demonstrates Fu’s confidence and his refusal to be intimidated by Wang Jintang.
• Inspired by Fu’s trust, Cheng adds another 2,000 yuan of his own money to his existing bet, choosing to support Fu despite the risks.
• The next competitors are Zhang Beishan, Chu Yunhan, Zhang Songlin, and Chen Hedong. Zhang and Chu receive loud cheers because of their strength and popularity.
• Zhang Songlin and Chen Hedong each achieve a respectable Force Intensity of 4.
• Chu Yunhan summons a humanoid Mecha modeled after himself, complete with a long saber. Combining his Mecha Master abilities with his Blade-and-Sword Enchanter skills, he performs a powerful energy-vibrating slash and achieves 8 Force Intensity.
• The teachers praise Chu’s exceptional integration of his combat profession and Mecha design. The chapter explains that combining different professions with Mecha creation allows for many specialized types of Mechas.
• Zhang Beishan then summons a much larger Minotaur Mecha wielding a huge axe. The students are shocked that he appears to have expanded and improved the model in only a few days.
• Without any visible gesture, Zhang’s Minotaur suddenly charges the detector, ending the chapter before his score is revealed.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Becomes more determined and proactive. He recognizes that avoiding conflict will not protect him from Wang Jintang and decides to pursue every opportunity to change his future, even if it means openly competing against Wang.
• Cheng Xiaoyu: Shows strong loyalty and gratitude toward Fu. He initially reacts impulsively to Wang’s threat but proves his faith in Fu by increasing his bet and supporting him financially.
• Wang Jintang: Establishes himself as an intimidating rival who intends to pressure or suppress Fu, even after Fu avoids provoking him.
• Chu Yunhan: Demonstrates confidence, technical skill, and showmanship. His Mecha reflects both his appearance and his specialized sword-fighting abilities, reinforcing his status as a popular star student.
• Zhang Beishan: Is presented as powerful, arrogant, and highly capable. His upgraded Minotaur Mecha suggests rapid improvement and significant talent.

Significant Themes

• Confronting adversity: Fu realizes that staying passive cannot prevent enemies from targeting him, so he chooses to confront challenges directly.
• Seizing opportunities: The Mecha test is more than a simple assessment; Fu sees it as a chance to improve his fate and gain future benefits.
• Confidence and risk: Fu’s bet represents his willingness to stake his money and reputation on his own abilities.
• Talent and specialization: The chapter highlights how different combat professions can be combined with Mecha technology to create varied and powerful fighting styles.
• Popularity versus substance: Chu Yunhan attracts attention because of his appearance and charisma, but his impressive score proves that his popularity is supported by genuine ability.

Character Interactions

• Wang Jintang taunts Cheng and threatens Fu before leaving, creating the central rivalry.
• Cheng attempts to defend and encourage Fu, while Fu redirects Cheng’s anger into a wager supporting his victory.
• Fu and Cheng’s betting exchange strengthens their friendship and mutual trust.
• The students and teachers react enthusiastically to Chu Yunhan’s performance, emphasizing his celebrity-like status.
• The crowd then shifts its attention to Zhang Beishan, whose mysterious, upgraded Minotaur Mecha creates widespread surprise and anticipation.

Chapter Summary: Active-State Mecha

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Beishan’s bull-headed mecha strikes the energy wall with 9 Force Intensity, earning loud cheers and effectively securing his victory.
• Zhang scores 1769 points, taking first place, while Chu Yunhan scores 1687, placing second. Their tense exchange suggests continued rivalry.
• The next contestants—Sun Ting, Zhou Kang, Zhao Zhiyu, and Fu Junlin—begin their tests.
• The first three contestants achieve attack intensities of 4, 5, and 3, respectively. A score of 5 is considered rare for a beginner, while 3 is passing and 4 is excellent.
• Fu Junlin initially embarrasses himself when his mecha’s depleted Energy Crystal Block must be recharged in front of everyone. The audience mocks him, assuming his cheap, secondhand equipment reflects poor ability.
• After charging the mecha, Fu Junlin performs simple movements through its controller. His mecha mirrors him with startling precision.
• The teachers realize that Fu Junlin’s mecha possesses a revolutionary design: its joints and torso are connected by flexible, fiber-like structures that imitate muscles rather than relying on rigid steel plates.

Character Developments

• Zhang Beishan proves himself the strongest competitor so far, though his dissatisfaction with 9 Force Intensity reveals his ambition and high standards.
• Chu Yunhan remains Zhang’s primary rival. Their mutual hostility becomes more apparent despite their strong performances.
• Fu Junlin appears poor, nervous, and inexperienced when his mecha needs emergency charging, but this humiliation hides an extraordinary technological achievement.
• Shi Hongyu and the other teachers shift from passive observers to astonished evaluators once they recognize the originality and sophistication of Fu Junlin’s mecha.
• Cheng Xiaoyu openly supports Fu Junlin, cheering him on even when the rest of the audience ridicules him.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus true ability: Fu Junlin’s worn, inexpensive mecha is dismissed by the crowd, yet its internal design surpasses conventional models.
• Innovation versus tradition: Most mechas are rigid machines, while Fu Junlin’s uses muscle-like fibers to reproduce natural human movement.
• Talent hidden beneath humiliation: His embarrassing charging mistake creates the impression of incompetence, setting up the dramatic reveal of his skill.
• Competition and status: The event emphasizes rankings, betting, rivalry, and public judgment, while also showing that conventional scores may not measure true potential.
• Technological advancement: The chapter introduces the concept of an “active-state” mecha—one capable of dynamic, flexible movement rather than mechanical rigidity.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Beishan and Chu Yunhan exchange a hostile glance after their performances, reinforcing their rivalry.
• Cheng Xiaoyu encourages Fu Junlin while others jeer at him.
• The students mock Fu Junlin when his mecha requires charging, especially those who had bet on his failure.
• The teachers react collectively with shock and excitement, discussing whether Fu Junlin has successfully imitated biological muscles.
• Fu Junlin himself remains focused despite the ridicule, calmly operating his mecha and unintentionally revealing its groundbreaking construction.

Chapter Summary: “Force Rises from the Ground: The Most Basic Principle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the mech assignment demonstration, Fu Junlin’s mech initially appears unimpressive. It is unusually agile, but neither the students nor the teachers understand the purpose of its movements.
• Zhang Beishan recognizes that the mech’s agility allows it to move more like a human, while Qiao Zishu arrives late and anxiously checks on Fu Junlin.
• Fu Junlin adopts a basic Fistmaster stance and performs a simple punch based on proper body mechanics: pushing off with the rear leg, coordinating the stance and waist, and transferring force through the shoulder.
• His mech perfectly mirrors the movement. Although the punch contains no elemental power or Energy Vibration, it dents the energy wall and registers an astonishing 21 Force Intensity.
• The result shocks the students and teachers. Teacher Sun officially announces that Fu Junlin has passed.
• Fu Junlin’s submission rises to first place in the school rankings with 1,972 points.
• Cheng Xiaoyu celebrates wildly, especially because his gamble has grown from three thousand to twenty-seven thousand. Meanwhile, Wang Jintang suffers another major financial loss and becomes increasingly resentful.
• Fu Junlin retrieves his mech and learns that, despite using some secondhand or ordinary materials, it has achieved extraordinary performance. Its construction cost several times more than comparable mechs.
• After the event, Cheng Xiaoyu helps Fu Junlin collect his gambling winnings. Fu Junlin discovers that he earned sixteen thousand after subtracting his original stake.
• As the chapter ends, Shi Hongyu summons Fu Junlin for a private conversation.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin demonstrates exceptional technical insight by applying the fundamental principle of coordinated body mechanics to mech construction. His success proves that his mech is not merely powerful but capable of reproducing human combat movements with remarkable precision.
• Zhang Beishan shows perceptiveness by understanding that the mech’s agility makes it more humanlike, though he remains nervous about Fu Junlin’s performance.
• Cheng Xiaoyu continues to act impulsively and enthusiastically. His wild celebration and gambling success emphasize his carefree, exuberant personality and close friendship with Fu Junlin.
• Wang Jintang suffers another devastating loss. His resentment intensifies as his borrowed money disappears, positioning him as an increasingly hostile figure.
• Shi Hongyu shifts from confusion to admiration once she identifies the principle behind Fu Junlin’s punch. Her decision to summon him afterward suggests that she now views his achievement as highly significant.
• Qiao Zishu displays concern for Fu Junlin, rushing to the venue and immediately checking on him.

Significant Themes

• Fundamentals over spectacle: Fu Junlin succeeds not through flashy energy techniques but through mastery of the most basic principle—force generated from the ground and transferred through the body.
• Human skill versus mechanical potential: The chapter contrasts human limitations, such as fear, pain, and instinctive hesitation, with the reliability of a well-designed mech that can execute commands without fear or fatigue.
• Ingenuity despite limited resources: Fu Junlin’s mech is built partly from ordinary materials and secondhand energy crystals because of his financial constraints, yet it outperforms more expensive-looking creations.
• The value of precise imitation: By reproducing the mechanics of a trained fighter, the mech becomes more than a machine; it functions like a dependable combat partner.
• Money and risk: Cheng Xiaoyu’s gambling success contrasts with Wang Jintang’s mounting debt, reinforcing the chapter’s recurring connection between competition, ambition, and financial consequences.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Beishan discusses the mech’s agility with his lackeys and recognizes its humanlike potential.
• Qiao Zishu asks Ling Xiaobing about Fu Junlin, while Ling admits she does not understand what he is doing.
• Shi Hongyu interprets Fu Junlin’s technique and identifies the principle of “waist and stance as one, force rising from the ground.”
• Cheng Xiaoyu celebrates Fu Junlin’s victory, embraces him, and then drags him away to collect their winnings.
• Shi Hongyu’s final summons creates anticipation for Fu Junlin’s next important interaction with the teachers.

Chapter Summary: “Honorary Professor”

Plot Points and Events

• Fu Junlin is unexpectedly summoned by Shi Hongyu and several teachers after his mech achieves an extraordinary Force Intensity of 21.
• The teachers believe the unusual construction process and performance of his mech are important enough to report directly to Professor Shangguan Mengzhi, an honorary professor and renowned mecha scholar.
• Fu and the teachers travel to the thirty-fourth floor of the school’s office building, a restricted, high-ranking research area filled with advanced laboratories, scholars, and mecha equipment.
• They meet a male researcher who informs them that Professor Shangguan has not yet returned. He leads them to Shangguan’s laboratory instead.
• Inside, Shangguan’s disciple reacts coldly and prejudicially to Fu’s status as a Subspecies. He permits them to leave the mech in a cluttered corner but shows no real interest in examining it.
• Fu summons his mech and places it among the equipment. Secretly, he searches for a photograph of Shangguan Mengzhi and briefly shows it to the mech, apparently taking some deliberate action that goes unnoticed by the teachers and researchers.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Initially nervous that the teachers may intend to experiment on or dissect him, he gradually becomes fascinated by the advanced technology and research environment. His admiration for Shangguan reveals his respect for legendary scholars. Despite his anxiety, he acts cleverly and independently by secretly showing the mech Shangguan’s image.
• Shi Hongyu: Acts as Fu’s reassuring guide and advocate. She explains the importance of the opportunity and confidently presents the teachers’ case to the researchers.
• Big Black: Provides comic relief through sarcastic and inappropriate commentary, including jokes about Fu being dissected and crude observations about Shi Hongyu and the scholars.
• The teachers: Demonstrate that they take Fu’s achievement seriously and are willing to bypass ordinary academic channels to bring his mech before the highest authority available.
• Shangguan’s disciple: Is established as arrogant and dismissive, especially toward Fu because he is a Subspecies. His behavior contrasts with the teachers’ objective evaluation of Fu’s talent.
• Professor Shangguan Mengzhi: Does not appear directly, but his reputation is emphasized. He is portrayed as a legendary scholar whose work helped separate Energy Vibration from Sonic Vibration.

Significant Themes

• Recognition of exceptional talent: Fu’s achievement is too unusual to be handled through normal procedures, suggesting that true innovation can challenge existing academic hierarchies.
• Prejudice and social hierarchy: The disciple’s hostility toward Fu because of his Subspecies identity highlights discrimination within the elite academic world.
• Knowledge and scientific advancement: The thirty-fourth floor symbolizes the heights of research and intellectual achievement, while the mecha laboratories represent Fu’s fascination with discovery and technology.
• Appearance versus reality: Although Fu appears nervous and insignificant to the researchers, he possesses a mech with major research value and secretly takes initiative.
• Ambition and opportunity: The teachers’ decision to seek Shangguan reflects the importance of placing groundbreaking work before influential experts.

Character Interactions

• Shi Hongyu reassures Fu and explains why the teachers have brought him to Shangguan.
• Fu and Big Black exchange sarcastic internal comments, contrasting Fu’s nervousness with Big Black’s irreverence.
• The male researcher shows polite interest in Shi Hongyu and guides the group through the research floor.
• Shi Hongyu calmly confronts the dismissive attitude of Shangguan’s disciple while maintaining professional composure.
• The disciple speaks condescendingly to the group and treats Fu’s mech as unimportant, while Fu quietly outmaneuvers him by performing a hidden action with the mech.

Chapter Summary: “Heretical Mech”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After leaving the laboratory, Shi Hongyu and Teacher Sun reassure Fu Junlin that Professor Shangguan may eventually recognize the quality of his mech.
• Fu reveals that he plans to replace his mech’s old four-handed Energy Crystal Block, implying that he earned money from the day’s quiz. The teachers tease him about secretly betting on the results.
• When Fu admits he won nine thousand, the teachers jokingly accuse the situation of being rigged. Shi Hongyu defends him and scolds the teachers for treating her student like a racehorse.
• Professor Shangguan Mengzhi returns from a conference. He is introduced as an elderly but energetic, respected, and highly demanding scholar.
• Shangguan’s laboratory is researching a massive mech capable of traveling through Interference Clouds and surveying distant Arena Zones—technology that could greatly expand humanity’s knowledge and transportation capabilities.
• The slick-haired junior scholar has completed calculations assigned by Shangguan, but Shangguan immediately rejects them and orders him to recalculate.
• When Shangguan asks whether anyone visited the laboratory, the slick-haired man lies and says no, deliberately concealing Fu Junlin’s mech. He is jealous and fears that Shangguan may find the mech impressive.
• After working for an hour, Shangguan leaves to get coffee. As he passes the laboratory door, he senses something unusual and looks back.
• Fu Junlin’s humanoid mech appears to have turned its head to follow Shangguan’s movement. When Shangguan steps back, the mech tracks him again, its eyes glowing with faint energy. The chapter ends with Shangguan realizing that the mech may be observing him autonomously.

Character Developments

• Fu Junlin: Shows modesty and practical ambition. He intends to improve his mech by replacing its outdated Energy Crystal Block, suggesting growing confidence and financial success.
• Shi Hongyu: Acts protectively toward Fu Junlin and openly challenges the teachers’ teasing, revealing her strong investment in his reputation and progress.
• Professor Shangguan Mengzhi: Is established as brilliant, disciplined, meticulous, and highly respected. His immediate rejection of faulty calculations emphasizes his scientific rigor.
• The slick-haired junior scholar: Becomes increasingly petty and insecure. After being reprimanded by Shangguan, he intentionally hides Fu’s mech to prevent it from receiving attention.
• Fu Junlin’s mech: Gains an eerie sense of agency, appearing capable of tracking Shangguan with its head and eyes.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus prejudice: Fu’s work may be overlooked because it comes from a Subspecies-built mech, despite its potential quality.
• Jealousy and professional insecurity: The slick-haired scholar’s dishonesty shows how competition can undermine scientific cooperation.
• Scientific rigor: Shangguan’s refusal to accept incomplete calculations highlights the importance of precision and verification.
• Emergent intelligence and the unknown: The mech’s independent movement raises questions about whether it possesses awareness or hidden capabilities.
• Recognition and merit: Fu’s supporters believe genuine ability will eventually be noticed, even if others attempt to suppress it.

Character Interactions

• Shi Hongyu and Teacher Sun encourage Fu Junlin, while the other teachers jokingly pressure him to reveal his winnings.
• Shi Hongyu confronts the teachers when their teasing goes too far.
• Shangguan interacts warmly with his junior scholars outside the strict laboratory environment, but maintains exacting standards regarding their work.
• The slick-haired scholar conceals information from Shangguan, creating a conflict between personal jealousy and scientific responsibility.
• The final interaction is nonverbal: Shangguan notices the mech watching and following him, establishing a tense and potentially dangerous connection.

Summary

Plot and key events

Professor Shangguan Mengzhi inspects a student’s mech and realizes it has achieved a remarkable breakthrough: its controls use fiberized connections that imitate the body’s muscles. He recognizes that either the student is a genius who has created a revolutionary new method, or the mech was built with technology far beyond the Federation’s capabilities. Furious that the discovery was nearly suppressed, he confronts his disciple, the greasy-haired scholar, accusing him of incompetence and ruining valuable work. He then leaves with another scholar to find the teachers who brought the student and mech to the research center.
Meanwhile, Fu Junlin attends a mech class hoping a different teacher might offer new perspectives. However, Wang Jintang and three followers surround him before class begins. They prevent him from leaving, intending to humiliate rather than physically attack him. Wang steals Fu Junlin’s book and deliberately tears it in half. Fu Junlin remains outwardly calm but is clearly reaching the limit of his patience, warning Wang that the consequences are the result of his own choice.

Character developments

• Shangguan Mengzhi shifts from cautious curiosity to intense anger and excitement after recognizing the mech’s significance. His expertise allows him to immediately identify its advanced design and the possible impact on mech research and the Federation.
• The greasy-haired man is exposed as jealous, petty, and obstructive. He attempts to excuse his absence during the mech’s examination but is unable to hide that he deliberately prevented Shangguan from seeing it.
• The blunt-spoken scholar demonstrates integrity by revealing the truth and defending the importance of the student’s invention, despite the greasy-haired man’s hostility.
• Fu Junlin shows increasing restraint and composure under bullying. Although angered, he does not immediately retaliate, suggesting that his patience is deliberate rather than weakness.
• Wang Jintang becomes bolder and more openly malicious, escalating from harassment to deliberately destroying Fu Junlin’s property.

Significant themes

• Suppression versus progress: Personal jealousy and institutional pettiness threaten to obstruct a breakthrough that could transform mech technology.
• Recognition of true talent: Shangguan’s expert inspection reveals that Fu Junlin’s mech is far more important than others understood.
• Abuse of power and bullying: Wang uses social pressure and numbers to isolate Fu Junlin, while bystanders passively watch or record the humiliation.
• Consequences and choice: Fu Junlin’s final statement emphasizes that Wang has knowingly chosen a path that may provoke serious retaliation.
• Scientific integrity: The blunt scholar’s willingness to challenge the greasy-haired man contrasts with those who remain silent for convenience.

Character interactions

Shangguan confronts the greasy-haired man after examining the mech, while the blunt scholar supports the student’s work and provides crucial information. Shangguan then seeks out Teachers Sun Jian and Shi Hongyu, who brought Fu Junlin and the mech. In the classroom, Wang Jintang and his lackeys deliberately trap and humiliate Fu Junlin. Their confrontation ends with Fu Junlin calmly warning Wang that he is responsible for whatever happens next.