Recaps

Feng Ling left Fox Village with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi and headed to the lake to ambush the wounded Labyrinth Master. After luring Leopard Woman into the water, Feng Ling mortally wounded it and faced the image of her mother before striking its face with her Bone Blades.

• Feng Ling explained that she planned to kill the Labyrinth Master before Queen Mother of the West returned to the Mountain, and Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao followed her despite their worries.
• Feng Ling left Fox Village with Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi, took the fruit, and headed for the lake where Leopard Woman was waiting.
• Feng Ling used the fruit to lure Leopard Woman into the shallows, then attacked it from underwater with Bone Blades and Fangs and Claws.
• After Leopard Woman collapsed, its head showed Feng Ling an image of her mother, and Feng Ling called herself the most well-behaved before driving her Bone Blades into the face.

Feng Ling killed the Labyrinth Master and obtained the Queen Mother of the West Card, while the survivors learned they could close the maze. As Pei Xianjue headed down the mountain to reunite with Feng Ling and Baozi, Li Qing discovered announcements warning that the Hidden Boss Hive had rapidly matured and was extremely dangerous.

• Feng Ling obtained the Queen Mother of the West Card after the Leopard Woman's corpse condensed into the Labyrinth Master's Card.
• Huangfu Miaomiao and Baozi reunited with Feng Ling, gave her a blanket and her damaged phone, and heard that the maze might disappear now that its master was dead.
• Feng Ling used the recovered phone to message Pei Xianjue.
• Pei Xianjue learned from Li Qing that the Labyrinth Master had been killed and that he could now close the maze, then set out to find Feng Ling and Baozi.
• Li Qing saw announcements that the Hidden Boss Hive had advanced to its Mature Form and warned players to keep their distance and stay safe.

After Feng Ling digested the Queen Mother of the West's Card, she gained new skills and a stronger form, while Li Qing and Pei Xianjue learned she had completed the kill. The group reunited at Goddess Peak as Li Qing prepared to close the Maze, which would return them to Sanqing Mountain and leave the Maze to die and eventually crumble away.

• Feng Ling digested the Queen Mother of the West's Card, gained Mother's Majesty and Mother's Knock, and recovered a stronger Nest Building ability.
• Huangfu Miaomiao noticed Feng Ling's advancement, and Feng Ling agreed to show her new form another time.
• Feng Ling received Pei Xianjue's message and headed with Baozi and Huangfu Miaomiao to meet Li Qing and Pei Xianjue at Goddess Peak.
• Li Qing explained that the storm came from the Maze separating from the real world and said closing it would return them to Sanqing Mountain.
• Pei Xianjue asked what would happen to the Maze, and Li Qing explained that its lifeforms would die as it became a barren space and gradually crumbled away.

After breaching the Sanqing Mountain Maze, Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and the others emerged into a storm and reunited with the Yuquan City Branch. As they left the mountain under escort, Pei Xianjue announced the operation’s success to the waiting crowd.

• Li Qing shut down the Maze, and the group discovered that their phones had regained signal as thunder and heavy rain swept over Sanqing Mountain.
• Pei Xianjue called Captain Shen, reported the Maze’s breach and Liang Zhou’s death, and learned that a team had gone missing in Daling Forest and headquarters had sent personnel to Yuquan City.
• Pei Xianjue told Feng Ling and Baozi to attend a meeting and report on the operation, then the group headed for the cable car as power returned on the mountain.
• Yuquan Branch members welcomed the group, gave them raincoats to hide their identities from reporters, and escorted them and the enlarged Cat Spider and Cat Owl down the mountain.
• As the crowd pressed toward their van, Pei Xianjue raised her fist and announced that they had breached the Xenomorphs’ Maze, prompting thunderous applause.

After escaping the Xenomorph Maze, Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue traveled to the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau, where Pei revealed her family had planned a publicity campaign to make her famous. As the news boosted Pei’s popularity and the Pei Corporation’s stock, an online post drew attention to a familiar-looking eight-legged monster in a photo.

• Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue rode with the Special Forces convoy toward the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau, while Feng Ling learned they would stay in Yuquan City for an emergency meeting.
• Pei Xianjue showed Feng Ling that their Maze operation was trending and explained that her family had arranged media coverage to build her fame, even preparing to present her as a martyr if she died.
• Feng Ling laughed at Pei Xianjue’s candid explanation, and Pei Xianjue rested, pleased that she had moved closer to her dream of fame.
• News coverage made Pei Xianjue a popular heroine, while Pei's Mother shared a training photo and the Pei Corporation’s product orders and stock rose.
• A netizen circled an eight-legged monster in a news photo and asked whether it looked familiar.

Online attention shifted from the Pei family to the Cat Spiders, and people connected one to the creature seen during the Mengjia Hotel incident and praised the mysterious Feng Ling. As Su Yuqing left for an emergency meeting in Yuquan City, Zhou Diao worried about Feng Ling, Ye Zheng, and his own lack of progress.

• Influencers circulated Cat Spider photos, and commenters identified one as the spider from the Mengjia Hotel incident and speculated about its connection to Feng Ling.
• Netizens praised the helpful civilian’s role in the hotel operation and Maze breakthrough, while some considered moving to Qingjiang City for safety.
• After reporters asked Su Yuqing about Feng Ling, he said to wait for the next day’s announcement and prepared to travel to Yuquan City for an emergency meeting.
• Zhou Diao told Su Yuqing to persuade Feng Ling to stay in Qingjiang City, but Su Yuqing replied that she would protect people wherever she went.
• After Su Yuqing left, Zhou Diao worried about the missing Ye Zheng and questioned whether his own strength was enough to protect the land.

Feng Ling questioned Li Qing after Huangfu Miaomiao caught him trying to escape, and learned he wanted to investigate the system and the game’s arrival. She Marked him and said she would neither help him escape nor stop him, leaving his escape to his own abilities.

• Feng Ling finished bathing and asked Huangfu Miaomiao to bring Li Qing to her.
• Huangfu Miaomiao caught Li Qing trying to sneak out through a window and took him to Feng Ling.
• Feng Ling asked Li Qing why he had not logged out after the Maze was conquered.
• Li Qing explained that logging out would cost him his administrative abilities and that he wanted to investigate the system, the Players, and the game’s arrival.
• Feng Ling Marked Li Qing and told him she would neither help nor hinder his escape.

Feng Ling discussed the Sanqing Mountain Maze with Li Qing before attending a delayed meeting at the Yuquan Branch. She noticed the agenda included Hunter Universalization, and Pei Xianjue explained that the Hunter Alliance Plan might expand from one hundred Hunters to far more.

• Feng Ling marked Li Qing, assured him the Mark would not affect his escape, and asked him about the Maze.
• The meeting was delayed until eight because news media vehicles caused traffic near the Yuquan Branch.
• Feng Ling told Pei Xianjue and Baozi about her work as a sparring partner and explained why she preferred it to being a bodyguard.
• Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and Baozi entered the conference room and reviewed the meeting agenda, which included Hunter Universalization.
• Pei Xianjue explained that the Hunter Alliance Plan could expand if its one hundred Hunters became positive examples, then asked Feng Ling what she thought.

At a public meeting, Pei Xianjue reported how she and Feng Ling escaped the Maze, while officials praised the survivors and asked about the dangers inside. The chapter left Pei Xianjue struggling to answer questions about the giant python as she looked to Feng Ling for help.

• Pei Xianjue told Feng Ling that her family supported the Hunter Alliance Plan and promoted special clothing for Hunters.
• Shen Mu introduced Feng Ling to the meeting, where she reunited with Su Yuqing and noticed that much of his hair had turned white.
• Shen Mu called for applause for Feng Ling, Pei Xianjue, and Baozi before Pei Xianjue began her report.
• Pei Xianjue described the Maze escape, explained that the Fox Demons’ linked Mental Power sustained Fox Village’s illusions, and accepted responsibility for Liang Zhou’s death.
• The Old General praised Pei Xianjue and asked how soldiers should handle the enormous python, prompting Pei Xianjue to glance at Feng Ling for help.

At a meeting, Feng Ling explained her encounters with Xenomorphs and analyzed the weaknesses of the Maze’s creatures. The officials discussed ways to support the Inspectors and Research Team trapped in Daling Forest, while Su Yuqing seemed distracted.

• The Old General reviewed Feng Ling’s record, and she explained that the Xenomorph game system had marked her as a Hidden Boss.
• Feng Ling told the meeting that fear turned into excitement for her, and the Old General criticized the Supervisor General Bureau for failing to recruit her.
• Feng Ling described the giant python and other Maze creatures as flawed products of Gene Evolution, but called the Queen Mother of the West perfect.
• Shen Mu urged the attendees to share ideas for supporting the team trapped in the Maze, and they discussed research, evacuations, patrols, and drones.
• Feng Ling noticed that Su Yuqing seemed distracted as the discussion continued.

Feng Ling attended a late-night meeting where officials debated whether to expand the Hunter system, and Pei Xianjue recommended waiting before promoting it further. After the meeting, Su Yuqing told Feng Ling she could no longer stay at his apartment because her two pets had grown too large.

• Shen Mu argued that Hunters could help protect citizens and relieve the Inspectors and Special Forces, while others raised concerns about crime and the lack of training.
• The Old General asked Pei Xianjue whether the Hunter Plan should be promoted, and Pei Xianjue said they should wait for the new system to operate before deciding.
• Shen Mu agreed to set the proposal aside and hold another discussion after the Hunter system had run for a month, then ended the meeting.
• Feng Ling left the supper gathering, and Su Yuqing approached her after other people had been preparing to recruit her.
• Feng Ling invited Su Yuqing to see her grown pets, and Su Yuqing said she could no longer stay in his apartment because they needed more space.

Feng Ling discussed new housing arrangements with Su Yuqing, who helped her consider spacious sites around Qingjiang City. Their conversation about the planned Hunter Alliance revealed to Feng Ling that Su Yuqing, too, felt a subtle superiority toward people without Cards.

• Su Yuqing offered to help Feng Ling find a larger place where Cat Spider and Cat Owl would not disturb ordinary residents.
• Feng Ling and Su Yuqing returned to her room, where he calmly petted Cat Spider and met Huangfu Miaomiao.
• Su Yuqing showed Feng Ling marked housing options around Qingjiang City and explained that living downtown would help her respond to cases.
• Feng Ling asked why Su Yuqing had not spoken at the meeting, and he explained that the Hunter Alliance proposal was already set to be implemented despite the planned further discussion.
• Feng Ling noticed a faint sense of superiority in Su Yuqing's attitude toward people without Cards.

Feng Ling chose the abandoned Qingjiang Financial Center as her future home, while Su Yuqing told her about Ye Zheng’s dangerous Maze mission and showed her Ye Zheng’s cryptic final message. Feng Ling became obsessed with the word “Squirrel” and interrupted Li Qing’s escape to ask what it meant.

• Feng Ling chose the unfinished Qingjiang Financial Center, and Su Yuqing offered to secure several years of usage rights and renovate its sales office using her bonus.
• Su Yuqing told Feng Ling that Ye Zheng had killed the Labyrinth Master in Daling Forest’s Maze but had not yet led her team out.
• Su Yuqing privately showed Feng Ling Ye Zheng’s last message, which contained only the word “Squirrel.”
• Feng Ling went to Li Qing’s room and found him escaping down a bedsheet rope through the rain.
• Feng Ling climbed outside with an umbrella and asked Li Qing what “Squirrel” meant as he continued his escape.

Feng Ling helped Li Qing escape from the Supervision Building, and he explained how Squirrel Card holders could be used as living card stores and human bombs. Feng Ling suspected the Squirrel Card found among the Underground Cave Contaminant’s cards had caused its corruption, and she wondered whether to warn Su Yuqing as Li Qing prepared to leave.

• Feng Ling helped Li Qing climb down from the ninth floor and enter the seventh-floor medical area through a window opened by his Green Weasel.
• Li Qing changed into a caretaker’s uniform and explained that Administrators could access card and Player information but were bound by the rule against revealing information about the original world.
• Li Qing told Feng Ling that Squirrels could store Cards and that Players sometimes kept them captive as card packs.
• Li Qing explained that when a Squirrel died, its stored Cards burst out and could overwhelm an enemy with Corruption, turning them into a Contaminant.
• Feng Ling recalled finding a Squirrel Card among the cards produced by an Underground Cave Contaminant and wondered whether it had been attacked by a Squirrel.
• Li Qing warned Feng Ling to be careful around whoever had encountered a Squirrel, while Feng Ling considered whether to tell Su Yuqing.

Feng Ling worried about Squirrel’s threat, then felt reassured after deciding to keep Li Qing nearby so he could identify Players and their Cards. The next morning, she read Forum posts linking her to the five people who emerged from the Sanqing Palace Maze and proposing an attack on the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau.

• Feng Ling heard Li Qing’s escape plan and offered him a place to sleep in her RV and money for the trip back to Sanqing Mountain, but he left in frustration.
• Feng Ling considered how Squirrel could ruin a Card Deck and decided she would catch Li Qing again after daylight so she could use his Labyrinth Administrator ability to detect Players and their Cards.
• After the rain cleared, Feng Ling read that the Northern Maze Expedition had returned safely and congratulated Su Yuqing.
• Huangfu Miaomiao read Forum posts speculating that Feng Ling had entered a Maze, defeated its Labyrinth Master, and advanced to Mature Form.
• Huangfu Miaomiao read a post suggesting Feng Ling was among the five people who emerged from the Sanqing Palace Maze and proposing that Players attack the Yuquan City Supervision Bureau.

Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao discussed Xenomorphs’ plans and learned about the Star Society before Pei Xianjue invited them for skincare at the Supervision Bureau. The chapter ended with Feng Ling agreeing to accompany Pei Xianjue to bodyguard interviews at Yuquan Forest Farm so her two little ones could run in the grassy field.

• Huangfu Miaomiao read Forum complaints about lost Points and mentioned the Star Society, which had campaigned against the Abyss.
• Pei Xianjue invited Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao to lunch at the Supervision Bureau and learned that Li Qing had escaped by climbing down a bedsheet from the ninth floor.
• Pei Xianjue said damaged surveillance lines had prevented the Security Department from tracking Li Qing, then invited Feng Ling to try skincare treatments.
• Feng Ling, Huangfu Miaomiao, and Pei Xianjue received facials while Pei Xianjue described two incidents that Liang Zhou had resolved.
• Pei Xianjue invited Feng Ling to help judge bodyguard candidates at Yuquan Forest Farm, and Feng Ling agreed so her two little ones could run in the field.

Feng Ling accompanied Pei Xianjue to interview prospective Hunters for the Pei Clan Group and learned how the company planned to train and profit from them. Huangfu Miaomiao spotted a Player among the interviewees, leaving Feng Ling to watch the situation while keeping the warning from the group.

• Pei Xianjue explained that the Pei Clan Group would sign Hunter Contracts with promising candidates and make money through security work, media appearances, and merchandise.
• Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue arrived at Yuquan Forest Farm, where Baozi had gathered the interviewees to demonstrate their abilities.
• Huangfu Miaomiao warned Feng Ling that a person in a gray T-shirt was a Player and asked whether they should cancel the interview.
• Feng Ling sent Huangfu Miaomiao to stay in the air-conditioned vehicle, then let the Cat Spider and Cat Owl out of their truck.
• Feng Ling suspected the Player might be investigating Pei Xianjue and chose not to warn her within the interviewees' hearing.

Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue watched candidates demonstrate their abilities in interviews for Pei Xianjue’s bodyguard team. Fang Ye recognized Feng Ling from the Underground Cave operation, and the interview continued as the other candidates asked him about it.

• Baozi explained that the interview would select a bodyguard who could also fight Xenomorphs and protect Yuquan City.
• The gray-shirted Xenomorph drew No. 1 but asked to go last, while No. 2 demonstrated her Nether Butterfly hallucination ability on Feng Ling.
• No. 3 transformed into a powerful Bearman and sent sandbags flying with a punch.
• Fang Ye demonstrated his Mermaid Card and reminded Feng Ling that they had met during the Underground Cave operation in Jiangkou City.
• Feng Ling told Pei Xianjue that she and Fang Ye had met once, and the interview moved on to No. 5.
• The other interviewees asked Fang Ye about the Underground Cave operation, and he felt special as he answered.

During Pei Xianjue’s bodyguard interviews, Feng Ling recognized that Xiao Zhiwen was a Xenomorph trying to test her Card Ability. After Feng Ling subdued him, Pei Xianjue offered the interviewees a reward for killing him, and the disguised Xenomorph cried out for Starlight.

• The interviewees demonstrated their abilities while Pei Xianjue considered their strength and personalities.
• Xiao Zhiwen asked Feng Ling to cooperate with his demonstration, and Feng Ling grew suspicious of his unusual insistence.
• Feng Ling identified Xiao Zhiwen as a Xenomorph, and he revealed himself by scattering Colorful Scale Powder before fleeing with copied abilities.
• Feng Ling’s Mental Pressure brought Xiao Zhiwen and the surrounding interviewees to their knees, while Baozi protected Pei Xianjue from the pressure.
• Baozi revealed that the Xenomorph had impersonated the real Xiao Zhiwen, and Pei Xianjue promised a million to whoever killed it.
• Feng Ling withdrew her pressure, the interviewees attacked the Xenomorph, and it screamed for Starlight to save it.

Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue’s interview was interrupted by Xiao Zhiwen, who fought under apparent remote guidance before the Cat Owl and Cat Spider killed him. After the candidates were sent away, Feng Ling searched the corpse and discovered a strange eye between its collarbones.

• Xiao Zhiwen attacked the interviewees, and Feng Ling realized his improved fighting tactics suggested someone was guiding him.
• Feng Ling’s Cat Owl used Mental Pressure to hinder Xiao Zhiwen and the interviewees, while the Cat Spider attacked him.
• The Cat Owl and Cat Spider fought over Xiao Zhiwen until they tore his head from his body, and Pei Xianjue awarded each interviewee a 100,000 bonus.
• Fang Ye returned to the bus hoping to pass the interview and get closer to Feng Ling.
• Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue found that Xiao Zhiwen had logged off without yielding a Card, and Feng Ling searched his clothes for a possible earpiece.
• Feng Ling found an eyelid-like growth between Xiao Zhiwen’s collarbones and discovered a large grayish-purple eye beneath it.

After the Xenomorph attack, Feng Ling examined the creature’s dried eye and took Huangfu Miaomiao toward Sanqing Mountain to track Li Qing. Back on the bus, the interviewees celebrated Fang Ye’s bravery and praised his chances of passing.

• Feng Ling pulled the eye from the Xenomorph, guessed it was a Card Ability that could let someone see and hear through another person, and kept it to investigate.
• Feng Ling and Pei Xianjue returned to the vehicle, where Huangfu Miaomiao could not identify the eye or explain why the Xenomorph had shouted “Starlight.”
• After the Special Forces and Cleaners arrived, Feng Ling sent Cat Spider and Cat Owl back to the truck and arranged to take them elsewhere for a walk.
• Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao left for the Sanqing Mountain Scenic Area, and Feng Ling used the Mark to track Li Qing’s location.
• On the bus back to the city, the interviewees praised Fang Ye for charging through the Scale Powder and predicted he would pass the interview.

Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao found Li Qing apparently dead in the overheated RV, but the Green Weasel revived him after Huangfu Miaomiao injected it. Feng Ling sent Li Qing to clean up and Huangfu Miaomiao to buy him a Daoist robe, then tried to get Li Qing to come out so they could talk.

• Feng Ling and Huangfu Miaomiao found Li Qing motionless in the RV, with no heartbeat and a cold body.
• Huangfu Miaomiao found a General Treatment Injectable and All-Purpose Preservative in Li Qing's hand, then injected the Green Weasel.
• The Green Weasel drank water and returned to Li Qing's clothes, after which Li Qing opened his eyes.
• Li Qing explained that he had fainted with a fever before using his Potion, and Feng Ling told him to shower and change clothes.
• Feng Ling sent Huangfu Miaomiao to buy a Daoist robe, then knocked on the Bathroom door and asked Li Qing to come out and talk.

Feng Ling questioned Li Qing about his use of a corpse and learned how Administrators were being hunted by Players. Seeking a Card for her Hive’s evolution, she asked him about a parasitic eye ability and learned its holder belonged to the Star Society.

• Li Qing explained that his Diviner Card’s Soul Summoning ability let him control the corpse of a Taoist named Li Qing, which he had used to investigate Administrators going offline abnormally.
• Li Qing told Feng Ling that many Administrators had reported being attacked by Players, and that the survivors were hiding to avoid being hunted.
• Feng Ling gave Li Qing a Xenomorph’s eye and said she felt her Hive needed its ability to reach its final evolutionary form.
• Li Qing identified the ability as likely belonging to the Eye of Horus Card, which let its holder place eye-shaped parasites on others to see and hear through them.
• Li Qing said the Eye of Horus holder had joined the Star Society, and warned Feng Ling that its Players were Madmen.

Feng Ling and Li Qing agreed to cooperate, then prepared to seek out a Labyrinth Administrator while gathering supplies and training. An emergency order called Hunters to the north to fight Contaminants, and Feng Ling decided to go.

• Feng Ling offered to protect Li Qing and help rescue Administrators in exchange for information about the Star Society, and Li Qing accepted her offer.
• Li Qing proposed finding a Labyrinth Administrator that had survived a recent Player attack, and Feng Ling agreed to go with him.
• Feng Ling, Huangfu Miaomiao, and Li Qing met in the RV and drafted a plan to gather supplies, weapons, and equipment.
• Feng Ling trained with firearms at Pei Xianjue's training grounds for three days.
• Feng Ling received an emergency order recruiting Hunters to fight Contaminants damaging the Containment Net in the north, and she decided to go.

Feng Ling traveled north on a special train for the Cleansing Operation, where she unexpectedly encountered Su Yuqing, who was searching for news of Ye Zheng. After arriving in the polluted northern region, she saw infected residents suffering in a makeshift hospital.

• Feng Ling arranged a special train carriage so she could travel with her companions and pets.
• Feng Ling ran into Su Yuqing on the train and learned he had come north to investigate Ye Zheng's disappearance.
• Feng Ling resolved to find the eye and eliminate the Squirrel before it could ruin her plans.
• The train arrived at a small northern station, and staff in Protective Suits led the Hunters toward their accommodations.
• Feng Ling and the Hunters passed a makeshift hospital where infected residents cried and suffered from the Maze's pollution.