Chapter Summaries

Plot points

• The Totem Black Snake rises beside a skyscraper during its shedding period and focuses on Ye Xinxia, Mo Xie, and Liu Ru. It senses something unsettling in Xinxia, reacts warily to Mo Xie’s scarlet eyes, and then notices the faint golden glow of his Qilin Pendant.
• Though the snake’s presence sends the district into panic, Mo Xie stays composed, trusting the pendant to protect them.
• A white-haired mage with Wind Wings confronts the snake, but it ignores him. After studying Mo Xie’s pendant, the snake vanishes into a vast cloud of mist without damaging the city.
• Mo Xie, Xinxia, and Liu Ru leave the restaurant. Officials soon claim online that the apparition was a Beast Shadow Formation, but witnesses dispute the explanation, leaving the truth unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie remains calm and protective, standing between the danger and the two women. His eyes and pendant reveal that he possesses powers or secrets the snake recognizes.
• Ye Xinxia is shaken by the encounter and reflects that Mo Xie has increasingly many secrets.
• Liu Ru is captivated by Mo Xie’s protective act, and her admiration intensifies into romantic excitement.
• The white-haired mage shows unusual courage by challenging the snake, though he cannot control or deter it.
• The snake’s reactions suggest a significant, unexplained connection to Mo Xie and the pendant.

Significant themes

• Human vulnerability before nature and power: The snake’s scale dwarfs the city, and its mere presence disrupts ordinary life.
• Secrecy and ambiguity: The official explanation conflicts with eyewitness accounts, while Mo Xie’s connection to the snake remains mysterious.
• Fear and protection: Public panic contrasts with Mo Xie’s composure and his instinct to protect those with him.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie, Ye Xinxia, and Liu Ru have dinner, then return to Liu Ru’s apartment. Xinxia insists on staying because she worries Liu Ru might make a move on Mo Xie.
• While the women wash up, Mo Xie prepares the spare bedroom and meditates. He reviews his ten elements, the increasing demands of cultivation, and his plan to seek time in the Three-Step Tower for a period of seclusion.
• In his Totem Space, Mo Xie surveys the Totems he has gathered and focuses on the unlit Black Tortoise area. He plans to ask Tang Yue to take him to the Totem Black Snake and obtain its origin, hoping to advance his Shadow Element and get closer to seeing Xiao Sha again.
• Liu Ru, wearing a revealing nightgown, approaches Mo Xie and steals a brief kiss while he pretends to remain in Meditation. She retreats to the spare bedroom, where Xinxia is waiting.
• Xinxia recognizes Liu Ru’s outfit as a possible attempt to tempt Mo Xie. Liu Ru offers her modest pajamas; Xinxia suspects a scheme and decides not to wear them.

Character developments

• Mo Xie is increasingly stretched by the time and resources required to cultivate ten elements. He is focused on managing his progress and pursuing the Totem Black Snake’s power.
• Ye Xinxia shows protective jealousy and a mischievous streak: she stays to keep an eye on Mo Xie, then counters Liu Ru’s apparent strategy in her own way.
• Liu Ru reveals bold romantic interest in Mo Xie, acting on it with a furtive kiss, though she is shy afterward.

Significant themes

• Ambition and sacrifice: Mo Xie’s expanding powers bring greater demands on his time, resources, and discipline.
• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: Xinxia and Liu Ru quietly maneuver around Mo Xie, each trying to influence the situation.
• Hidden intentions and playful deception: Mo Xie pretends to meditate, Liu Ru sneaks a kiss, and Xinxia sees through what she believes is Liu Ru’s pajama ploy.

Character interactions

• Xinxia deliberately inserts herself into Mo Xie and Liu Ru’s living arrangement out of concern—and jealousy.
• Liu Ru kisses Mo Xie while he feigns unconsciousness, then acts innocent when she returns to Xinxia.
• Liu Ru offers Xinxia pajamas; Xinxia interprets the offer as part of a plan and resolves to avoid wearing them.

Plot and events

• After meditating, Mo Xie returns to the bedroom and finds Ye Xinxia waiting for him in bed, naked beneath a quilt.
• Xinxia cuddles and teases him, explaining that she missed sharing a bed with him. Mo Xie asks why she isn’t wearing the pajamas Liu Ru prepared.
• When Xinxia hints that she wants more than cuddling, Mo Xie remembers that it is the wrong time of the month and refuses to go further. They kiss, but he stops when their intimacy starts to escalate.
• He promises to take her out with the others the next day. Xinxia accepts and falls asleep beside him.

Character developments

• Mo Xie is affectionate toward Xinxia but shows more restraint than he might have in the past. His experiences with Qin Yuer have changed how he responds to physical closeness.
• Ye Xinxia is playful, openly affectionate, and eager for intimacy. Though disappointed when Mo Xie sets a boundary, she ultimately respects it.

Themes

• The chapter explores the shift from childhood closeness to adult romantic tension, alongside Mo Xie’s growing awareness of desire and responsibility.
• It also emphasizes affection, teasing, self-restraint, and the need to respect physical boundaries.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie and Xinxia exchange flirtatious, tender banter while cuddling and kissing.
• Xinxia tries to draw him into greater intimacy; Mo Xie gently but firmly stops her, and the two settle down together.

• Key events: Mo Xie and Ye Xinxia spend the night holding each other and talking, but both restrain their desires. Xinxia wakes before dawn, slips away from Mo Xie, and returns with a fresh scent. Liu Ru, curious about what is happening, peeks into their room and is visibly flustered by what she sees. Mo Xie wakes and realizes what Xinxia has done; once she returns, he gently tells her she should tell him next time rather than act alone.
• Character developments: Xinxia’s happiness at being close to Mo Xie is mixed with shyness and desire, and she takes a secret step toward intimacy. Mo Xie remains restrained and considerate, responding with mild reproach rather than anger. Liu Ru’s curiosity reveals a more voyeuristic, easily stirred side to her character.
• Character interactions: The chapter centers on the tender physical closeness between Mo Xie and Xinxia. Their final exchange is affectionate: Xinxia apologizes, and Mo Xie reassures her that he would welcome her desire if she shared it with him. Liu Ru’s unseen observation provides a contrasting, comic note of embarrassment.
• Significant themes: The chapter explores desire and self-restraint, intimacy built on trust and communication, and the warmth of belonging in a close relationship.

Plot and key events

• After the Totem Black Snake’s appearance in Hangzhou, Mo Xie spends the next week with Ye Xinxia and Liu Ru. Public speculation about the incident fades as authorities’ account gains acceptance and attention shifts to new reports of sea beasts.
• When Tang Yue finishes her work and has a day off, Mo Xie visits her apartment.
• The two greet each other affectionately and share a passionate reunion. Mo Xie apologizes for not contacting her after the snake appeared.
• Mo Xie gives Tang Yue several outfits as thanks for looking after Ye Xinxia. Delighted, she changes into one of them.
• Tang Yue suggests they go for a walk so they can talk about the colossal snake, which Mo Xie saw while dining with Ye Xinxia.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is relaxed after the crisis and eager to reconnect with Tang Yue. He shows affection through teasing, physical closeness, and thoughtful gifts, though he admits he should have contacted her sooner.
• Tang Yue is pleased to see him but reveals she had been worried when she heard of the incident. Her teasing and warm response show their intimacy and mutual affection.
• Ye Xinxia had reassured Tang Yue that Mo Xie was safe; Mo Xie also soothes her jealousy before leaving to visit Tang Yue.
• Liu Ru remains part of Mo Xie’s pleasant week, though she does not appear in the visit to Tang Yue.

Significant themes

• Public memory and uncertainty: Without further evidence, public attention to the snake quickly fades.
• Affection and reassurance: Mo Xie’s relationships are expressed through care, gifts, apologies, and physical tenderness.
• A crisis beneath ordinary life: The snake’s appearance remains a serious, unresolved topic even as the characters return to everyday routines.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie is struck by Tang Yue’s appearance and compliments her as they leave her apartment. In the elevator, he admits he can estimate her measurements—and hints that he has measured her before—prompting Tang Yue to blush and threaten him with her heel.
• The two exchange affectionate, teasing banter. Tang Yue reminds Mo Xie that they are in public, then leads him around Hangzhou instead of stopping for lunch.
• As they walk, Tang Yue begins telling Mo Xie about her hometown: a cluster of lakeside villages outside the Safe Zone, where many residents were mages and a protective god kept monsters and spirits away.
• Mo Xie guesses that the villages’ guardian was the Sky-Piercing Giant Serpent. Tang Yue confirms this and takes him by boat across West Lake to Heart of the Lake Island.
• Mo Xie senses something vast beneath the lake’s still surface, though the feeling quickly disappears.
• On reaching the island, they are confronted by Da Sheng, a guard who objects to Mo Xie’s presence. When he assumes the two are romantically involved, Tang Yue blushes, takes Mo Xie’s arm, and calls him her “little brother.”

Character developments

• Tang Yue appears confident and playful, but her recollections reveal a childlike fondness for her lakeside hometown and its traditions. Her closeness with Mo Xie is evident, even as she labels him her little brother.
• Mo Xie shows affection and possessiveness toward Tang Yue, teasing her and feeling irritated by Da Sheng’s attention to her. He also remains curious and observant, especially when he senses something beneath the lake.
• Da Sheng is introduced as a protective, suspicious guard whose apparent interest in Tang Yue turns into hostility toward Mo Xie.

Significant themes

• Affection expressed through teasing: Mo Xie and Tang Yue’s jokes and physical closeness convey intimacy.
• Home and memory: Tang Yue’s story connects her present journey to the villages and beliefs of her childhood.
• Mystery and latent danger: Mo Xie’s fleeting sense of a colossal presence beneath West Lake hints that the lake may conceal something important.
• Belonging and boundaries: Da Sheng’s challenge raises the question of who counts as an outsider—and how Tang Yue defines her relationship with Mo Xie.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie compliments Tang Yue and jokes with her about her measurements; she responds with embarrassment, mock irritation, and playful threats.
• They walk arm in arm, trade jokes about their appearances, and share a quiet moment as Tang Yue recounts her childhood.
• Da Sheng challenges Mo Xie’s right to be on the island. Tang Yue defends him and, after Da Sheng misreads their closeness, calls him her little brother—leaving the exact nature of their relationship humorously ambiguous.

Summary

• Da Sheng questions why Tang Yue calls Mo Xie her little brother. When she insists that her uncle accepted Mo Xie as his nephew, Da Sheng drops his suspicion and leaves the island. Mo Xie watches him go with a brief, concealed flash of menace, revealing that he holds grudges and is wary of Da Sheng.
• Tang Yue notices Mo Xie’s mood and comforts him. He reassures her, then explores the familiar Heart of the Lake Island with her. Its guards have been sent away because of the giant snake; the Oath Tree is considered protection enough.
• Tang Yue takes Mo Xie to a pavilion displaying ancient artifacts and murals. One mural depicts a giant snake coiled around a village, protecting it from Demon Beasts. Tang Yue explains that the image records the Totem Black Snake’s ancient role: he once protected a village and now protects Hangzhou.
• Tang Yue says the Black Snake usually appears only when a serious threat endangers the city. She asks Mo Xie what he noticed during its appearance seven days earlier. Knowing the real reason but unable to disclose it, he jokes that the snake may have been watching him.
• Mo Xie identifies the creature as a Totem Beast. Tang Yue confirms that her people have guarded it for generations, but Totem Beasts are feared, their guardians are increasingly rare, and society no longer accepts Totems. As she speaks, a deep growl sounds near the island.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows both affection and protectiveness toward Tang Yue, teasing her about her admirers, while privately revealing a darker, vengeful side toward Da Sheng. He also keeps the truth about the Black Snake’s appearance secret.
• Tang Yue is warm and playful with Mo Xie, treating him as family and gently looking after him. She also shares her concern about the declining acceptance of Totem Beasts.
• Da Sheng shifts from suspicion to outward acceptance after Tang Yue asserts Mo Xie’s family connection, though Mo Xie remains distrustful of him.
• Tang Yue and Mo Xie’s easy teasing and closeness contrast with the chapter’s gathering tension around the Black Snake.

Significant themes

The chapter explores loyalty and trust, concealed motives, and the tension between ancient guardianship and modern fear. The murals preserve a history that people have nearly forgotten, while the Totem Guardians’ fading influence raises questions about whether society can still accept the beings that once protected it.

Plot points and events

• Tang Yue reveals that the Totem Black Snake sheds his skin once every ten years, a period when he is unusually weak and vulnerable to attack.
• Because someone in the clan may be secretly cooperating with outsiders, Tang Yue wants trusted people from outside the clan to help protect him. She recruits Mo Xie, whom she trusts for his strength, judgment, and independence.
• Tang Yue takes Mo Xie to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon and calls the Black Snake, who rises from the water in enormous form.
• She introduces Mo Xie as her former student, chosen little brother, and the young man she likes. The Black Snake then sends a beam of violet light into Mo Xie’s brow, pulling his soul into the Totem Space.
• Inside that space, the light reveals the colossal, violet-glowing serpent behind the mist around the Black Tortoise. The Black Snake roars.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Yue shows how deeply she trusts Mo Xie by sharing a sensitive secret and assigning him a dangerous responsibility. Her affectionate, youthful manner around the Black Snake contrasts with her usual mature composure. She also shyly admits her romantic feelings for Mo Xie.
• Mo Xie readily accepts the mission, partly to help Tang Yue and partly because he is eager to meet the Totem Beast. His encounter with the Black Snake unexpectedly becomes a direct spiritual connection.
• The Totem Black Snake is presented not just as a powerful creature but as a familiar, trusted guardian whom Tang Yue treats with warmth. His sudden intervention with Mo Xie is unexplained and marks a dramatic turning point.

Significant themes

• Trust amid betrayal: The suspected clan traitor makes loyalty and secrecy central to the protection mission.
• Power and vulnerability: Even a mighty guardian can be endangered during a rare period of weakness.
• Personal bonds: Tang Yue’s closeness to the Black Snake and her growing affection for Mo Xie link private relationships to a larger duty.
• The unknown and the supernatural: The Black Snake’s connection to Mo Xie’s soul opens a mysterious new dimension to their relationship.

Plot points

• After the Totem Black Snake grants Mo Xie totem energy, he returns from the Totem Space, pleased that the energy may let his lagging Shadow Element advance to the Advanced Level.
• Tang Yue, worried by the snake’s beam of light, checks that Mo Xie is safe. He reassures her and reveals that he is a Totem Guardian.
• Mo Xie’s Qilin Pendant activates on its own and sends golden energy into the Totem Black Snake. The energy strengthens the snake within the Supreme Monarch Level and shortens its molting period.
• The snake responds affectionately to Mo Xie, and the two appear to have formed a mental connection. It does not recognize the pendant, though it senses an affinity with it.
• Mo Xie asks Tang Yue to keep his Totem Guardian identity secret, then requests that she watch over him while he attempts to advance his Shadow Element.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie becomes more open with Tang Yue, sharing a closely guarded secret because he trusts her. He also gains a stronger bond with the Totem Black Snake and prepares for another breakthrough.
• Tang Yue shifts from alarm to relief, accepts Mo Xie’s revelation without hesitation, and promises to protect his secret. His rapid progress still surprises her, though she is becoming accustomed to it.
• The Totem Black Snake grows stronger through the pendant’s energy and displays clear affection toward Mo Xie, suggesting their connection is deepening.

Significant themes

• Trust and intimacy: Mo Xie’s disclosure and Tang Yue’s unwavering support strengthen their relationship.
• Growing bonds between humans and Totems: Mo Xie’s connection with the Black Snake develops into mutual understanding and affection.
• Power and rapid advancement: New sources of energy allow both Mo Xie and the Totem Black Snake to progress beyond their previous limits.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie meditates while Tang Yue guards him. In his Spiritual World, a golden Qilin smashes the barrier around his Shadow Element Nebula. Despite a painful mental backlash, Mo Xie withstands the breakthrough.
• The Nebula becomes a Star River containing 343 stars, marking the Shadow Element’s advancement to the Advanced Level.
• The dark Star River pulls Mo Xie into the Dark Plane. Recognizing the place, he urgently searches for Xiao Sha, the Queen of the Spider Lily.
• He reaches a bone-white palace guarded by black-armored knights, who bow to him as its true master.
• Inside, crimson Lycoris Radiata spread into a carpet before him. Xiao Sha appears among the flowers, a mysterious, black-clad figure whose presence makes the blooms flourish ahead of her and wither behind.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie demonstrates increased mental resilience, enduring the breakthrough’s backlash, and gains a more powerful Shadow Element.
• His immediate concern upon entering the Dark Plane is finding Xiao Sha, suggesting a strong personal attachment.
• Tang Yue supports him by standing guard while he meditates.
• The palace knights treat Mo Xie with deference, while Xiao Sha’s entrance establishes her as a striking, formidable presence. Their reunion is anticipated but not yet shown.

Significant themes

• Transformation and power: The Shadow Element’s breakthrough turns a confined Nebula into a vast Star River.
• The familiar and the uncanny: Mo Xie feels at home in the Dark Plane, yet its stark landscape and eerie palace remain unsettling.
• Beauty entwined with death: The vivid spider lilies and Xiao Sha’s elegant appearance carry an unmistakably ominous quality.
• Belonging and authority: The knights’ salute suggests Mo Xie has a recognized place and status in this realm.

Plot points and events

• Mo Xie sees the Queen of the Spider Lily, whom he calls Xiao Sha, and is overwhelmed by emotion. Memories of her surface, and he begins to cry.
• His tear transforms the palace: its cold, bone-white appearance becomes warm gold and crimson, while blood-red spider lilies bloom beneath Xiao Sha’s steps and lights gather around Mo Xie.
• Xiao Sha approaches, confirms that Mo Xie has recovered to the Advanced Level, and recognizes that this is why he came to the Dark Plane and they met again.
• Mo Xie embraces her impulsively, relieved and excited that she is physically present. After briefly correcting his overly tight hold, Xiao Sha draws him back and kisses him.
• When Mo Xie tries to kiss her again, she stops him with a finger and says she must first help him take care of something important.

Character development

• Mo Xie is emotionally vulnerable and deeply attached to Xiao Sha. His tears, trembling, and spontaneous embrace reveal how much he has missed her; he is also flustered by her affection.
• Xiao Sha appears regal and self-possessed, but her tenderness toward Mo Xie is clear. She reciprocates his longing while playfully controlling the pace of their reunion.

Themes

• Reunion and longing: Their meeting releases emotions and memories Mo Xie has been carrying.
• Transformation through connection: The palace shifts from eerie and cold to welcoming as Xiao Sha draws near and Mo Xie responds emotionally.
• Intimacy and restraint: Their embrace and kiss show mutual affection, while Xiao Sha’s final interruption hints that practical matters must come before further romance.

Character interactions

• Xiao Sha comforts Mo Xie by touching his face, while he responds by holding her close.
• She gently objects to his tight embrace, then reverses the moment by wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.
• Mo Xie attempts to continue kissing her, but Xiao Sha teasingly stops him and redirects their attention to an important task.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie is reunited with the Queen of the Spider Lily, Xiao Sha. He initially embraces her instinctively, stirred by his lingering memories of their time together.
• Xiao Sha says she must help him with something important, then directs a surge of mental energy into his Spiritual World. A mysterious, profoundly evil darkness enters his Shadow Element Star River.
• Mo Xie’s shadow awakens, rises from the floor, and merges with him. The resulting black substance gathers in his hand and transforms into a powerful weapon.
• Black flames ignite around Mo Xie, and the Shadow Descendant King appears as a phantom behind him. After sharing an unspoken, emotional moment with Xiao Sha, the phantom dissolves into a black cloak over Mo Xie’s shoulders.
• Mo Xie tests the new power, reshaping the shadow into a scythe, a Tang Dao, and a blade attached to his forearm. Xiao Sha names it Evil Fiend.

Character developments

• Mo Xie gains control of a formidable new shadow-based power and delights in discovering its versatility. His eyes return to normal once the transformation settles, while the cloak, weapon, and black flames remain.
• Xiao Sha acts as a guide, deliberately awakening Mo Xie’s new ability. Her nostalgia and warmth suggest that her bond with the Shadow Descendant King remains important.
• The Shadow Descendant King briefly manifests through Mo Xie, expressing apology, love, and longing toward Xiao Sha before fading away.

Significant themes

• Reunion and lingering attachment: Mo Xie’s instinctive closeness and the King’s emotional response show how powerful their shared past remains.
• Transformation and inheritance: The King’s presence and shadow become part of Mo Xie’s new power.
• Power and self-discovery: Mo Xie learns that the living shadow can assume many forms and may reveal its full strength in his hands.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie and Xiao Sha share an intimate reunion, but she shifts the moment into a purposeful act of guidance by awakening his power.
• The Shadow Descendant King’s phantom silently acknowledges Xiao Sha with regret and affection; she responds with visible nostalgia.
• Xiao Sha watches Mo Xie experiment with his new weapon, amused by his excitement, and gives the power its name: Evil Fiend.

Plot points and events

• Mo Xie tests his newly gained weapon, Evil Fiend, by striking the palace floor and wall. The damage is immense but rapidly repairs itself through the palace’s strange restorative magic.
• The Queen of the Spider Lily explains that Evil Fiend is a power of the Shadow Scion: Mo Xie can shape his shadow into weapons, and its signature attack is the Shadow Assassination Technique, which can kill unnoticed. For now, the technique requires Spirit Essence.
• Mo Xie dismisses the blade, cloak, and black flames, recognizing that Evil Fiend has greatly expanded his Shadow Element’s offensive capabilities.
• Excited and grateful, he embraces and kisses the Queen. They share a tender, passionate moment before he asks whether they can leave the Dark Plane.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie is thrilled by his growing power and sees the Shadow Element as a versatile force in its own right. His excitement leads him to express his affection openly.
• The Queen of the Spider Lily is pleased to guide him and share in his joy. Though initially startled by his embrace and kiss, she reciprocates warmly and shows both affection and vulnerability.
• Their relationship appears deeply intimate: playful teasing and physical closeness give way to mutual tenderness, while Mo Xie’s final question hints at a practical concern beyond their moment together.

Significant themes

• Power and growth: Evil Fiend marks a major expansion of Mo Xie’s abilities, though some techniques still depend on his recovering strength.
• Shadow and identity: Mo’s shadow is no longer merely an element he controls; it becomes a weapon that reflects his growing power.
• Intimacy amid danger: The couple’s affectionate pause contrasts with the Dark Plane’s supernatural setting and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

Plot and key events

• Mo Xie asks Xiao Sha, the Queen of the Spider Lily, whether they can leave the Dark Plane. She explains that she cannot: she lacks the strength to travel freely between planes and must govern the Shadow Scion while the true Shadow Descendant King is absent.
• Mo Xie tries to understand why, but an attempt to access memories of his past life triggers a mental shock. Xiao Sha comforts him and advises him not to force open the locked memories in his Memory Palace.
• After Mo Xie apologizes for leaving Xiao Sha with the clan’s responsibilities, she reminds him that those duties are hers too—and playfully asks for a “reward.” They are about to kiss when the sound of approaching heels interrupts them.
• Ling enters. Her arrival immediately makes the scene tense as she and Xiao Sha exchange sharp looks. Mo Xie steps away, worried that the two powerful women are about to clash.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows guilt over neglecting his responsibilities, but remains unable to recover his blocked memories. His quick retreat when Ling arrives reveals his unease about a confrontation between her and Xiao Sha.
• Xiao Sha is affectionate and reassuring toward Mo Xie, while also accepting her role as Shadow Scion empress. Her flirtatious request for a reward turns into a pointed, annoyed reaction when Ling appears.
• Ling arrives with evident tenderness for Mo Xie, but her gaze toward Xiao Sha carries an unmistakable edge. The women’s mutual scrutiny suggests rivalry.

Significant themes

• Memory and restraint: Mo Xie’s past remains inaccessible, and forcing the issue risks harming him; he must focus on the present.
• Duty and personal longing: Xiao Sha balances her love for Mo Xie with her obligations to the Shadow Scion.
• Romantic rivalry and tension: The interrupted kiss and the women’s charged encounter set up a “Shura Field”—a volatile love-triangle confrontation.

Key plot points and events

• Ling and Xiao Sha (the Queen of the Spider Lily) reunite in the Dark Plane, trading affectionate but pointed remarks that make Mo Xie suspect they are on poor terms.
• Xiao Sha reveals that Mo Xie could visit her only because Ling used much of her Mental Strength to make the meeting possible. Ling’s strength is temporarily depleted, so she can no longer appear in Mo Xie’s Memory Palace; she must recover in the Evil Heaven Pavilion.
• Mo Xie worries about Ling and thanks her. She reassures him that she and Xiao Sha will support him until he regains his peak strength, then sends him away before he can ask more.
• Once Mo Xie has vanished, Xiao Sha admits that the two women staged their tense exchange and Ling’s apparent sacrifice to keep him from realizing the truth: he has not recovered his memories, and the women are close as sisters.
• They discuss the Dark Plane, where the Shadow Scion remains stable and the Dark King has caused no trouble. They expect Mo Xie to seek out Little Snow and Little Ice next.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie shows concern and guilt over Ling’s sacrifice, while his missing memories leave him unaware of the women’s real relationship and shared history.
• Ling demonstrates affection and loyalty through her effort to bring Mo Xie and Xiao Sha together. She hides her true closeness with Xiao Sha to preserve their ruse.
• Xiao Sha shifts from a regal, cool presence to a playful younger-sister demeanor once Mo Xie is gone. She is grateful to Ling and remains attentive to her duties as ruler.
• Ling and Xiao Sha’s apparent rivalry masks deep sisterly affection, trust, and cooperation.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and support: Ling spends her strength to help Mo Xie reconnect with someone important.
• Memory and hidden truth: Mo Xie’s amnesia shapes what he understands, while those around him manage what he sees.
• Loyalty and deception: The women use a convincing performance to protect their secret and guide Mo Xie.
• Power and responsibility: Xiao Sha balances personal affection with maintaining stability in the Dark Plane.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie emerges from meditation after a long absence and finds the Totem Black Snake waiting beside him. Tang Yue is nowhere to be seen.
• He checks his messages and learns that two hunters’ deaths have been reported in connection with the recent Giant Snake Incident. This contradicts the authorities’ earlier claim that no one was killed.
• Tang Yue believes the Totem Black Snake has been framed. She has been called to a meeting at the Hangzhou Magic Association Tower and tells Mo Xie to join her.
• Mo Xie sends the snake back into West Lake, warning that they may need to flee that night, then travels to the tower with Xiao Qing.
• Tang Yue greets him anxiously and embraces him. Mo Xie comforts her and promises the Totem Black Snake will be all right.
• They head to a high-security conference room, where Tang Yue introduces Mo Xie to her senior brother. He recognizes Mo Xie from the Oath Tree’s blessing and admits them to the meeting.

Character developments

• Mo Xie returns confident and composed. He quickly assesses the suspicious reports, supports Tang Yue emotionally, and prepares for the possibility that they will have to escape.
• Tang Yue is distressed over the threat to the Totem Black Snake, but Mo Xie’s presence helps calm her. Her affection and trust in him are clear.
• The Totem Black Snake remains unaware of the danger surrounding it and follows Mo Xie’s instruction to return to the lake.
• Tang Yue’s senior brother appears watchful and authoritative, but recognizes Mo Xie’s standing.

Significant themes

• False accusations and manipulation: The sudden discovery of old, poison-corroded bodies raises doubts about the official account and suggests a deliberate effort to implicate the snake.
• Loyalty and protection: Mo Xie and Tang Yue’s concern for the Totem Black Snake drives their actions.
• Comfort through trust: Tang Yue’s anxiety eases when Mo Xie reassures her, emphasizing the strength of their bond.
• Power and scrutiny: The heavily guarded meeting and the senior brother’s recognition of Mo Xie signal that the crisis has drawn the attention of powerful authorities.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie gently reassures the Totem Black Snake before sending it back to West Lake.
• Tang Yue rushes into Mo Xie’s arms and confides her fear; he comforts her with physical affection and a promise to help.
• Tang Yue introduces Mo Xie to her senior brother, who recognizes him and allows them into the conference room.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie and Tang Yue enter a high-level meeting about the Totem Black Snake, where Judgment Hall officials and other powerful mages have gathered.
• Councilor Zhu Meng demands that the snake be handed over for elimination after two people were found dead. His faction has long argued that potential threats to cities should be removed before they can cause harm.
• Tang Yue explains that officials had investigated the snake’s earlier appearance at a construction site: it harmed no living creatures, and it does not release venom while shedding. She believes the deaths are being used as a pretext to frame it.
• Tang Zhong urges restraint, while Totem supporters argue that the snake has long belonged in West Lake and has never harmed citizens. Zhu Meng rejects their claims, insisting public safety comes first.
• An elderly goateed official accuses Zhu Meng of using the crisis to advance his political ambition. In private, however, the elder admits the snake was framed and intends to let it take the blame to protect his own position.

Character developments and interactions

• Mo Xie observes the meeting and asks Tang Yue about Zhu Meng, learning the political history behind the dispute. He considers the danger the snake might pose but is persuaded by the evidence and Tang Yue’s certainty.
• Tang Yue openly defends the Totem Black Snake, showing deep personal trust in it and anger at Zhu Meng’s campaign.
• Leng Qing reassures Tang Yue and supports her account, citing the investigation. She shares a notably warm greeting with Mo Xie.
• Zhu Meng presents himself as a forceful defender of Hangzhou’s safety, but his rigid threat-elimination policy makes him unwilling to consider the Totem’s history or the evidence.
• The goateed elder publicly attacks Zhu Meng but privately reveals his own self-serving motives, suggesting the dispute is shaped by political maneuvering as well as concern for public safety.

Significant themes

• Public safety versus heritage: The meeting pits precaution against respect for an ancient being that has peacefully shared the city.
• Evidence versus fear: The snake’s size and reputation make it an easy target, even though the investigation undermines the accusations.
• Political opportunism and scapegoating: Officials may exploit the deaths and public anxiety to pursue power or protect their own standing.
• Trust and loyalty: Tang Yue’s faith in the snake contrasts with the suspicion and self-interest driving the political debate.

Key plot points and events

• Mo Xie clarifies that his doubts in the meeting were tactical: he still believes the Totem Black Snake is innocent and wanted to understand where Tang Zhong and the others stood before deciding what to do.
• He and Tang Yue head to Three Pools Mirroring the Moon with a Totem Bead, a special vessel that can contain living creatures as long as it has enough life energy.
• Tang Zhong has secretly arranged for them to move the weakened, shedding Totem Black Snake. Zhu Meng intends to destroy it, not merely drive it away, and the snake would be helpless while shedding.
• The snake’s presence has attracted attention from powerful authorities beyond Hangzhou, increasing the danger that it will be executed.
• Tang Yue recalls how the snake saved her from a rogue Fang Beast when she was a child and watched over her as she grew up. She now feels it is her turn to protect it.
• Mo Xie promises that she can rely on him too. The two share an emotional kiss beside West Lake.

Character developments

• Mo Xie remains convinced of the snake’s innocence and reassures Tang Yue that his earlier comments did not signal a loss of faith. He also makes clear his devotion to her.
• Tang Yue moves from anxiety over Mo Xie’s apparent uncertainty to renewed trust. Her childhood memories explain the deep, familial bond she feels with the snake and her resolve to save it.
• Tang Zhong is shown acting covertly to protect the snake by arranging its escape before Zhu Meng can strike.
• Zhu Meng is revealed to be determined to eliminate the snake, making him a direct threat rather than simply an authority seeking its removal.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Tang Yue’s bond with the snake and Mo Xie’s promise to protect her echo one another.
• Trust amid uncertainty: Tang Yue fears Mo Xie may doubt the snake, but his reassurance restores her confidence.
• Fear versus belonging: Others see the snake as a terrifying danger; Tang Yue sees it as a guardian and part of her home.
• Prejudice and political pressure: The snake’s unusual status and fearsome appearance make it vulnerable to authorities despite its connection to the city.

Character interactions

• Mo Xie comforts Tang Yue when she worries he suspects the snake, while keeping his next move secret.
• Tang Yue shares the memory that explains why she loves and trusts the snake.
• Mo Xie listens, then offers himself as someone she can lean on; Tang Yue responds by embracing and kissing him.

Plot points and events

• After sharing an intimate kiss, Mo Xie and Tang Yue stop when she reminds him that they must move the Totem Black Snake before Zhu Meng can target it again.
• Tang Yue speaks affectionately with the snake, who responds by emerging from West Lake. She explains that he becomes smaller while shedding his skin and scales.
• She uses the Totem Bead to draw the snake inside, then prepares to travel to a safe refuge: the hidden caves of White Mountain near Bai Town.
• Mo Xie summons his green-feathered eagle, Xiao Qing, and flies there with Tang Yue. He gives her his cloak against the cold, and she rests against his shoulder.
• During the flight, Mo Xie calls Leng Lingling for help. She complains that he only contacts her when he needs something, but agrees to travel to Hangzhou the next day and bring Xiao Fan. Mo Xie promises to take her Demon Beast hunting afterward.

Character development and interactions

• Tang Yue shows deep affection and long-standing trust toward the Totem Black Snake, treating him like a beloved elder. She is also playful and comfortable with Mo Xie, while remaining focused on protecting the snake.
• Mo Xie helps Tang Yue safeguard the Totem, offers practical support by arranging faster transport, and shows quiet consideration by giving her his cloak. His awkward, teasing exchange with Lingling reveals a close sibling relationship.
• Leng Lingling, though feeling neglected, is eager to help her brother. Their bickering is affectionate, and Mo Xie responds to her complaints with reassurance and a promised outing.
• Tang Yue overhears the call but discreetly lets Mo Xie handle it, then laughs at his banter with Lingling.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Tang Yue and Mo Xie work together to shield the Totem Black Snake from danger.
• Found family and companionship: Tang Yue’s bond with the snake reflects the comfort he gave her growing up, while the sibling call shows familiar family affection.
• Intimacy and care: Romance between Mo Xie and Tang Yue is paired with small gestures of concern and mutual ease.

Key events

• Mo Fan and Tang Yue enter Bai Town, where newcomers are being screened because a serious plague is spreading. Their check is brief, and they pass without identity checks.
• The normally crowded trading town is eerily quiet: stalls have disappeared, shops are mostly closed, and few people are about.
• They check into a registered hotel. Mo Fan persuades Tang Yue not to choose an unregistered place, citing the risk of hidden cameras.
• At the front desk, the proprietress claims the plague began after the giant Totem Black Snake appeared and may be caused by its venom. Her daughter, the masked receptionist, is less certain but thinks the timing is suspicious.
• From their room, Mo Fan and Tang Yue see medical stations, protective-clad workers, and ambulances throughout town. Tang Yue begins to wonder whether the snake really is responsible.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang Yue is anxious about their flight from Councilor Zhu Meng and the Black Snake, but relaxes when she learns the checkpoints are for disease screening. Seeing the outbreak’s severity, however, she becomes troubled that the snake may have caused it.
• Mo Fan remains practical and reassuring. He steers Tang Yue toward safer accommodation and listens closely to local gossip about the plague.
• Mo Fan and Tang Yue act as partners, sharing a room and looking out for one another. The hotel staff’s contrasting views offer them competing interpretations of the crisis.

Significant themes

• Fear and misinformation: Residents connect the plague to the snake largely through timing and rumor.
• Public crisis and social change: The outbreak has transformed a lively trading hub into a quiet, heavily monitored place.
• Uncertainty and responsibility: Tang Yue must confront the possibility that the creature they are protecting may be linked to the suffering around Hangzhou.