Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• While waiting for Brother Jiang to haul away his seven Sword Pigs, Chen Shu finishes his daily cultivation. He has learned how to hunt Sword Pigs efficiently but stops because his porter cannot carry any more.
• Chen Shu follows a familiar song through the forest and finds Yan Keling, a first-year student from Yujing University, beside a towering, multicolored beast.
• The beast attacks Chen Shu after he whistles at it. He blocks its charge with powerful techniques and warns Yan that she could face legal consequences if it harms him.
• Yan restrains the beast, apologizes, and agrees to compensate Chen Shu. The two introduce themselves, discover they attend the same university, and exchange friendly compliments.
• Chen Shu recognizes Yan as the student who recently won the Martial Body Meet using the long-lost Imperial Sect’s Divine Pact Method. He realizes the beast is a powerful projection bound by Yan’s spiritual power, and asks to exchange Feixun IDs.

Character developments

• Chen Shu shows confidence, resourcefulness, and opportunism: he has already intimidated other hunters into paying him, plans to test Brother Jiang’s carrying capacity, and stays composed during the beast’s attack. His curiosity about Yan’s ability leads him to approach her socially.
• Yan Keling is energetic and apologetic, but her control over the beast is imperfect. Though she calls herself weak, her Divine Pact gives her access to an exceptionally powerful companion. She appears friendly and eager to make amends.

Character interactions

• Chen Shu and Yan begin cautiously after the beast nearly attacks him, then quickly become cordial through apologies, a promised payment, and mutual praise.
• Yan scolds the beast and emphasizes that she depends on it for companionship and singing, while the creature remains wary of Chen Shu.
• Chen Shu and Yan establish a senior–junior rapport and agree to connect online.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Yan’s beast is formidable, but its strength is limited by the spiritual power she can supply.
• Lost knowledge returning: Yan’s use of the Divine Pact Method challenges the belief that the Imperial Sect’s legendary techniques were mere myth.
• Practicality and self-interest: Chen Shu treats hunting, compensation, and even social connections with a calculating, opportunistic streak.
• Tradition versus modernity: An ancient supernatural technique draws attention from contemporary scholars and institutions, while Chen Shu responds with both historical knowledge and modern legal threats.

Plot points

• Chen Shu sends Zhang Suannai away after she discovers three restrained Sword Pigs. He keeps the animals, while Zhang hints that she has found a lead on the hidden Chinese Music Sect responsible for popular new songs.
• That evening, Chen Shu and Jiang Lai camp in Green Mountain Ridge. Chen feeds the exhausted Jiang generously, then says they will go farther into the mountains the next day, ostensibly to hunt more Sword Pigs.
• Chen climbs to a summit and surveys the moonlit landscape. The nearby mountains form a buffer around a vast, mist-covered forbidden zone. Hoping to find a Full Moonflower, he prepares to search using Spirit Eye and a night owl’s vision.
• Meanwhile, Zhang returns to University City and intercepts Meng Chunqiu, convinced he is the online identity Greens and Cocoa. After Meng misunderstands her accusation as a romantic overture, she strikes him and disappears.
• Watching from nearby, Zhang realizes Meng is not Greens and Cocoa. The real person is Xiaoxiao’s brother-in-law—the man she knows as Ning Qing’s supposedly nonexistent boyfriend. She concludes he has been using people close to her to fool her, and embarrassment gives way to anger.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Shu remains playful and calculating: he jokes about keeping a tiger as a cat, but his increasingly deep mountain excursions suggest a hidden purpose. He shows some guilt over Jiang’s grueling work and tries to compensate with food, even as he plans to push farther.
• Jiang Lai is hardworking and trusting. He suspects Chen has a reason for entering the mountains, possibly a treasure in the forbidden zone, but accepts Chen’s plans without pressing him.
• Zhang Suannai prides herself on rationality and chooses a direct confrontation over elaborate detective work. Her mistaken accusation, followed by the revelation that she has been deceived, leaves her humiliated and furious. She also begins to reconsider how much her roommates knew.
• Meng Chunqiu mistakes Zhang’s confrontation for romantic interest and responds with theatrical vanity, unaware of the identity she is trying to uncover.

Significant themes

• Deception and mistaken identity: Zhang’s investigation exposes how appearances and social connections can mislead, while her confidence in her deductions collapses.
• Rationality versus pride: Zhang calls herself a sage for choosing the simplest approach, but her assumptions still lead her astray.
• Hidden dangers and discovery: Chen’s search for the Full Moonflower draws him toward a vast forbidden zone whose mysteries—and risks—remain unresolved.
• Kindness mixed with self-interest: Chen’s care for Jiang is genuine, but it coexists with plans that require Jiang to keep working hard.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai realizes that Chen Shu, known online as Greens and Cocoa, had been behind several incidents she had misunderstood. He had discovered her identity while she had been pretending to be his online acquaintance’s girlfriend, and his final message had left them “even.” Embarrassed, she tells the group chat she got his identity wrong and vows to confront him in person when he returns from the Hunting Festival.
• At the dorm, Zhang questions Xiaoxiao about Greens and Cocoa. She learns that Xiaoxiao’s brother-in-law is named Chen Shu and that Ning Qing’s Feixin nickname, “Chen Knows Ning,” was changed by him. The clues convince Zhang that Chen Shu is Greens and Cocoa. When she admits she wants to beat him up, Xiaoxiao quietly retreats with her food.
• Ning Qing spends the day without hearing from Chen Shu. Though she tries to keep her attention on her book, his unusual silence catches her notice.
• At the forbidden land, Chen Shu uses a Spirit Bird’s vision to search the mountains. He spots and reaches a glowing patch of Full Moonflowers.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Suannai moves from confusion to recognition, then to mortification and indignation. She tries to preserve her reputation around Xiaoxiao and Ning Qing, while still planning to confront Chen Shu.
• Xiaoxiao is relaxed and food-motivated, but becomes wary when Zhang says she wants to attack her brother-in-law; she responds by taking her potatoes and leaving.
• Ning Qing remains outwardly composed and detached, yet Chen Shu’s lack of messages disrupts her usual expectations.
• Chen Shu is resourceful and focused, using the Spirit Bird’s senses to locate the rare flowers. His unseen connection with Zhang and Ning Qing links the dorm scenes to the mountain search.

Significant themes

• Mistaken identities and comic embarrassment: Zhang’s assumptions unravel as she recognizes how thoroughly Chen Shu had outmaneuvered her.
• Online and real-world connections: A group-chat identity turns out to belong to someone closely tied to Zhang’s friends.
• Hidden attachment: Ning Qing’s quiet awareness of Chen Shu’s silence suggests his daily attention matters to her more than she admits.
• Persistence and discovery: Chen Shu’s careful use of the Spirit Bird helps him find the Full Moonflowers despite the difficult terrain.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Shu discovers a glowing patch of Full Moonflower near the forbidden zone. Knowing it attracts powerful beasts, he waits and watches rather than approaching.
• Yan Keling arrives, accompanied by her summoned giant beast, Lin Jian. She and Chen Shu agree to take only the flowers that have already bloomed and split them evenly, leaving the rest for the beasts.
• A Central Continent Auspicious Ox and an Otherworldly Tiger appear and begin fighting over the flowers. Chen Shu, Yan Keling, and Lin Jian join the battle; Chen’s modern Spells and Lin Jian’s strength quickly wound the beasts.
• Rather than pursue or escalate the fight, Chen addresses the watching beasts, apologizes for intruding, and promises to take only the blooming flowers and never reveal the location. The tiger and two other hidden beasts withdraw, while the ox watches.
• Chen and Yan carefully divide and gather the flowers. Jiang Lai arrives after hearing the battle and tracking Chen with a Satellite Locator, but accepts that everything is fine and does not help.
• The group returns to camp after midnight. Chen seals the flowers with spiritual energy and secretly stores them in his Crystal.

Character developments

• Chen Shu shows caution, strategic thinking, and diplomacy. He fights decisively when needed but prefers a negotiated resolution, and he takes care not to break his promises.
• Yan Keling is eager to cooperate with Chen and trusts him readily, though her earlier understanding of Otherworldly Beasts seems limited. She proves capable in battle and careful in dividing the harvest fairly.
• Lin Jian demonstrates exceptional power and control as Yan’s summoned giant beast, fighting the ox and tiger on roughly equal terms.
• Jiang Lai appears concerned when he hears the explosions and comes to check on Chen, but has little involvement beyond that.

Significant themes

• Respect and negotiated coexistence: Chen treats the intelligent beasts as participants with their own rules, not merely obstacles.
• Trust and keeping one’s word: The beasts’ willingness to withdraw depends on Chen’s clear promises, while Chen and Yan also rely on mutual trust.
• Strength balanced by restraint: The group wins the fight but stops once the beasts retreat, avoiding needless harm.
• Fairness and shared interests: Chen and Yan split the flowers evenly and leave the unbloomed plants for the beasts.

Character interactions

• Chen and Yan trade admissions about having lied about their reasons for being there, then quickly agree on a shared plan.
• Chen coordinates smoothly with Yan and Lin Jian during the fight; afterward, he signals them to stop when he begins negotiating with the beasts.
• Chen addresses the beasts respectfully, explaining his intentions and offering assurances. Yan later discusses them with him, revealing her assumptions were shaped by Lord Lin Jian.
• Yan initially challenges Jiang Lai as an intruder, but Chen recognizes him and clarifies the situation.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai has a nightmare in which her roommate Ning Qing is clearly romantically involved with “Silly Cabbage” (Chen Shu), and Xiaoxiao calls him “Brother-in-law.” The dream ends with a meteor falling toward her.
• After waking, Zhang tries to convince herself the dream was nonsense. She questions Xiaoxiao about her sister and brother-in-law, and relaxes when Xiaoxiao says she has never seen Ning Qing put her arm around him.
• At school, Ning Qing messages Chen Shu. They exchange affectionate, matter-of-fact texts: she says she missed him, asks whether he found the Full Moonflower, and asks when he will return. Chen Shu says the search went well and that he plans to stay in the mountains a few more days.
• During the Hunting Festival, Chen Shu and Jiang Lai catch large numbers of Sword Pigs. Chen Shu repeatedly finds hidden herds, while Jiang Lai does the exhausting work of carrying the animals out to sell. By the festival’s end, both are pleased with their haul, though Jiang Lai is thoroughly worn out.
• Back from the mountains, Chen Shu finally returns to the group chat. He had seen Zhang Suannai’s earlier message but deliberately delayed replying to keep her waiting. Zhang immediately confronts him, accusing him of fooling her.

Character developments

• Zhang Suannai remains oblivious to the relationship between Ning Qing and Chen Shu. She interprets Ning Qing’s ordinary greetings as signs of growing affection and tries to reassure herself that her nightmare was false.
• Ning Qing is increasingly open and direct with Chen Shu, openly saying she missed him and asking about his trip. Her composed manner contrasts with Zhang’s anxious speculation.
• Chen Shu is playful and mischievous: he enjoys his mountain trip and intentionally leaves Zhang waiting in the group chat. He is also attentive to Jiang Lai, claiming to move closer to the mountain’s edge to spare him an overly long carry.
• Jiang Lai proves hardworking and practical, accepting the grueling hauling because it earns money. Repeated enormous catches eventually leave him emotionally numb and exhausted.
• Xiaoxiao remains blunt and uninterested in Zhang’s questions, answering only literally.

Significant themes

• Dramatic irony and mistaken assumptions: Zhang’s dream nearly reveals the truth, but she misreads reality and finds reassurance in incomplete answers.
• Teasing and social comedy: Chen Shu’s deliberate silence, Zhang’s panicked accusations, and the group’s appetite for gossip drive the humor.
• Hard work and reward: Jiang Lai’s labor contrasts with Chen Shu’s remarkable ease in locating Sword Pig herds.
• Affection expressed through simple exchanges: Ning Qing’s brief, direct messages show her growing closeness with Chen Shu.

Character interactions

• Zhang tries to draw information from Xiaoxiao about Ning Qing and Chen Shu, but Xiaoxiao’s answers only partly reassure her.
• Ning Qing and Chen Shu share a warm, straightforward text conversation, with Ning checking on both his task and his return.
• Chen Shu and Jiang Lai work together during the festival: Chen Shu hunts and locates herds, while Jiang Lai transports the catch.
• In the group chat, Zhang confronts Chen Shu as other members eagerly ask for details, turning his return into a public spectacle.

Key plot points and events

• Traveling by car at night, Chen Shu reads the group chat as Zhang Suannai realizes that he and her aloof, Celestial-Bloodline roommate are effectively childhood sweethearts—“a boyfriend before she’s even started dating.”
• Zhang angrily confronts Chen for deceiving her. The group members watch eagerly until admin Righteous Vital Energy mutes them, leaving the pair to argue privately.
• Their accusations reveal that both had long pretended to be someone else online: Chen claimed to be a woman, while Zhang posed as a sloppy older man. They trade examples of their mutual lies, then agree they are even, partly because Zhang enjoyed Chen’s cooking.
• Zhang’s main demand is that Chen not tell her two roommates about their connection in the group. After comic disputes over what he should swear by—and Chen accidentally reveals her real name—he finally makes a promise. A thunderclap coincides with his first, badly worded oath, prompting him to correct it.
• Once Zhang logs off, a confused group member asks whether Chen really made the lamb soup. Chen confirms he did and says most of what he has said in the group is true—unlike Zhang, who “makes up practically everything.” Zhang reappears, apparently having never left, and Chen answers with an innocent reaction image.

Character developments

• Chen Shu is amused and increasingly mischievous, enjoying his chance to tease Zhang, but he agrees to keep their group connection secret from her roommates.
• Zhang Suannai shifts from outraged accusation to reluctant reconciliation. She protects her image and privacy, and her fondness for Chen’s cooking helps soften her anger.
• Righteous Vital Energy plays the amused moderator, briefly silencing the spectators so the two can continue their argument.
• The other group members mostly act as an entertained audience, offering reactions and asking questions rather than intervening.

Significant themes

• Deception and online personas: Chen and Zhang discover they were both pretending to be different people, and their mutual hypocrisy becomes the joke.
• Teasing as intimacy: Their rapid-fire insults and shared references suggest familiarity and affection beneath the quarrel.
• Privacy and reputation: Zhang’s demand for secrecy shows she cares about how her roommates—and the group—see her.
• Food and forgiveness: Chen’s cooking gives Zhang a reason to let the conflict go.

Character interactions

Chen and Zhang’s rivalry drives the chapter: they expose each other’s lies, trade jokes, and negotiate secrecy. The group chat supplies a chorus of spectators, with the admin managing the audience and Zhang repeatedly trying to control what others learn.

Key events

• Chen Shu and Jiang Lai total their Hunting Festival earnings from selling 93 Sword Pigs: 2,814,119. Chen Shu insists on an equal split despite Jiang Lai’s offer to take only a small amount, and Jiang Lai uses his share toward replacing his cracked phone screen.
• Chen Shu posts their haul in the Ancient Cultivator group chat, provoking playful teasing of Grandma. He reflects that he could have earned more with a larger Spatial Artifact and plans to return to the festival in a stronger cultivation tier.
• Back at Yujing University, Chen Shu unexpectedly finds Ning Qing waiting at the school gate. He sends Jiang Lai off with their bags, hugs Ning Qing, and they go to dinner. He animatedly recounts the hunt while she listens quietly and looks after him.
• At the dorm, Chen Shu reconnects with Meng Chunqiu, declines his invitation to admire the rain, and messages Chen Banxia about delivering the Full Moonflower and arranging materials for three batches of medicine.
• After washing up, Chen Shu relaxes in bed to the sound of rain. The narrative then jumps forward to late March: he delivers the flower, resumes work on a Storage Ring, studies runes and Thunder Magic in the lab, and settles back into his usual routine.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Shu is cheerful and increasingly practical about making money, but remains generous with Jiang Lai. He is eager to see Ning Qing again and enjoys teasing her, his sister-in-law, and friends.
• Jiang Lai shows honesty and conscientiousness by carefully documenting sales and offering Chen Shu most of the proceeds. Chen Shu’s insistence on fairness reinforces their partnership.
• Ning Qing remains reserved and hard to read, but her presence at the gate and quiet care over dinner suggest affection and concern. She accepts Chen Shu’s hug without comment.
• Meng Chunqiu welcomes Chen Shu back and seeks company during the storm, though Chen Shu playfully avoids his invitation.

Significant themes

• Fairness and trust: Chen Shu shares the profits equally despite Jiang Lai’s willingness to settle for less.
• Companionship and homecoming: Returning from the mountains brings Chen Shu back to familiar relationships and routines.
• Everyday intimacy: Ning Qing’s quiet attentiveness contrasts with Chen Shu’s exuberant teasing.
• Routine after adventure: The chapter shifts from the excitement of the hunt to the steady rhythm of study, work, and personal connections.

Plot points and events

• Chen Shu gives Jiang Lai a newly designed set of attack Runes, explaining that they channel spiritual energy through Jiang’s fist to unleash a fan of Sword Qi. The attack is difficult to dodge at close range and powerful enough to overwhelm opponents of the same rank, but it consumes a great deal of energy. Jiang plans to have the Runes engraved in time for the upcoming Martial Body Meet.
• Chen Shu visits Ning Qing’s home, where her younger sister Xiaoxiao asks whether she has grown taller. Chen Shu avoids answering, and Xiaoxiao continues her determined effort to grow by eating well.
• Ning Qing asks Chen Shu to cook Sour Radish and Old Duck Soup for her birthday and says she will invite Zhang Suannai. Their teasing turns to dinner planning: Chen Shu cooks several dishes using the Sword Pig meat he has stored.
• At dinner, Xiaoxiao eats enthusiastically, convinced that steady nutrition will eventually make her much taller. Afterward she plays with her Rubik’s Cube while Ning Qing clears the dishes. Chen Shu goes upstairs to work on the ring he has nearly finished deciphering.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Lai is preparing to add a powerful, specialized attack to his Arena fighting style. His trust in Chen Shu and cooperation with the Arena’s owner help make the Rune engraving possible.
• Chen Shu is resourceful and confident in his Rune design, but his interactions at home reveal his playful, domestic side. He jokes with Ning Qing about being treated as a cook, while showing care through the meals he prepares.
• Ning Qing remains composed and sparing with affection, but she enjoys Chen Shu’s cooking and teases him by noticing his eagerness to see how Zhang Suannai’s visit will go.
• Xiaoxiao is earnest and comically persistent about growing taller. Her exchanges with Chen Shu show their familiar, affectionate “brother-in-law” dynamic; she interprets his silence as no reason to abandon her plan.

Significant themes

• Preparation and power: Jiang’s new technique offers formidable strength, but its high energy cost requires careful judgment and timing.
• Affection expressed through ordinary acts: Cooking, shared meals, and playful teasing reveal the closeness between Chen Shu and Ning Qing more than direct declarations do.
• Youthful determination and humor: Xiaoxiao’s belief that nutrition will eventually make her dramatically taller provides a lighthearted counterpoint to the chapter’s martial and technical details.

Plot points and events

• Chen Shu opens a spatial ring after quietly dismantling its protective seal. A curse-like gray smoke escapes and strikes him, overcoming his defenses and knocking him unconscious.
• Ning Qing finds him, puts the ring in his pocket, carries him to bed, undresses and covers him, leaves water by the bed, and sleeps downstairs.
• The next morning, Chen Shu wakes in Qingqing’s bed and lazily avoids getting up. After checking himself and analyzing the ring, he identifies the curse: it recognizes certain Xiaxi ancestral traits, spares most of its power when it finds them, but still inflicts a milder effect.
• Qingqing explains that the remaining effect is a Laziness Curse, which makes Chen Shu unusually unwilling to do anything. It can be resisted, lifted with a teacher’s help, or simply fade over time.
• Qingqing has made breakfast. Chen Shu agrees to let her act as his guardian for the next few days and keep him on track with his studies and duties, though their exchange ends in playful disagreement over whether she should stay while he gets dressed.

Character developments

• Chen Shu’s confidence in his knowledge and preparation is evident, but the curse exploits his longstanding laziness and threatens his carefully planned routine. He ultimately chooses to get up and accept help.
• Qingqing shows a caring, practical side: she quietly tends to Chen Shu overnight, cooks breakfast, diagnoses his condition, and agrees to supervise him. Her usual cool demeanor remains, though she is intrigued by her temporary authority.

Themes

• Care expressed through actions: Qingqing rarely makes a show of concern, but her overnight caretaking speaks for her.
• Self-discipline versus inclination: Chen Shu must resist a curse that magnifies a weakness he already has.
• Humor and domestic intimacy: His exaggerated laziness and their teasing “guardian” arrangement lighten the danger of the curse.
• Inherited identity and imperfect classification: The ring’s curse relies on Xiaxi physical traits, but mixed ancestry makes its test unreliable.

Character interactions

• Qingqing silently cares for the unconscious Chen Shu, then confronts him the next morning when he pretends to sleep.
• She pushes him to recognize the curse’s effects and urges him out of bed; he resists but is motivated by her cooking and concern for his responsibilities.
• Chen Shu appoints her his temporary guardian, and Qingqing accepts—setting up a playful power dynamic, especially when she insists he obey her even while getting dressed.

Plot points and events

• Chen Shu wakes up to Qingqing’s strict supervision. She makes him wash properly, brush his teeth, and manage his own breakfast rather than letting anyone serve him.
• Xiaoxiao mentions that rain may be leaking through her dorm-room wall. Chen Shu jokes that Qingqing would love to fix it—or live in a leaky room—but Qingqing ignores him.
• Qingqing assigns Chen Shu a reading task to combat his “chronic laziness”: finish page twenty of a survival guide. Xiaoxiao reveals that she has also been told not to help with his homework for a week.
• Chen Shu tries to argue that watching short videos will cure his laziness. Qingqing confiscates his phone until he reads. He then naps through his alarm, eventually waking at dusk and jokingly barking as promised.
• A singer who goes by Highness Cinnabar asks Chen Shu for songs for another album. He reluctantly replies that he is busy and to ask again later, motivated partly by the prospect of royalties.
• Chen Shu checks messages about the upcoming Martial Body Meet. He dislikes the early archery event and dreads competing, even considering forfeiting.
• In the Ancient Cultivator group chat, members discuss who will compete. Grandma Always Says challenges several members and asks to meet in person, but the others refuse to reveal their identities. The group learns that the admin won the championship two years earlier and has since reached the Sixth Tier. Qingqing eventually interrupts Chen Shu’s chat-reading to supervise his cultivation.

Character developments

• Chen Shu remains deeply lazy and evasive, repeatedly seeking shortcuts around Qingqing’s rules. Still, he makes small efforts—replying to the singer, checking the competition schedule, and eventually participating in his cultivation.
• Ning Qing (Qingqing) takes on a firm guardian role, using chores, reading, phone restrictions, and cultivation practice to discipline Chen Shu. Her calm persistence contrasts with his excuses, and she seems quietly amused by the challenge.
• Xiaoxiao follows her sister’s instructions, even refusing to serve Chen Shu congee. She also shares her practical concern about the leak in her dorm room.
• Grandma Always Says is competitive and confrontational, eager to test herself against the group’s fighters, while remaining frustrated by their refusal to meet.
• Highness Cinnabar is busy preparing a new album and continues to seek Chen Shu’s songwriting help.

Significant themes

• Discipline versus inertia: Qingqing tries to push Chen Shu toward responsibility, while he continually invents ways to avoid effort.
• Care expressed through supervision: Qingqing’s strictness is presented as a form of concern for Chen Shu’s habits and wellbeing.
• Public competition versus private identity: The upcoming tournament excites and challenges the cultivators, but members protect their anonymity and keep their online personas separate from real life.
• Humor through contrast: Chen Shu’s elaborate laziness, Qingqing’s deadpan authority, and the group chat’s bravado create much of the chapter’s comedy.

Character interactions

• Qingqing repeatedly counters Chen Shu’s requests and excuses, while he tests the limits of her authority.
• Xiaoxiao initially tries to help him but remembers Qingqing’s rule and refuses, reinforcing her sister’s discipline.
• Chen Shu’s exchange with Highness Cinnabar shows his reluctance to work alongside his awareness of the benefits.
• In the group chat, Grandma challenges fellow cultivators to compete and meet face-to-face; they respond with teasing, caution, or outright refusal.
• The chapter closes with Qingqing reclaiming Chen Shu’s attention from the chat and directing him back to cultivation.

Plot points and events

• On April 2, Chen Shu works on improving his Swordlight Art with new Third Tier penetration Runes, struggling because the lab simulator cannot handle them. His first Arena opponent will be Zhang Yunyan, and the approaching competition adds to his nerves.
• Chen Shu asks teachers Shi Qian and Lan Ming about the curse making him unusually lazy. Lan Ming identifies it as a minor black curse that should fade naturally, but warns that Chen Shu might grow accustomed to laziness. He recommends midday cultivation with Solar Essence to weaken the curse. Chen agrees, then returns to help with the teachers’ research.
• On April 5, Zhang Suannai reads a survival guide borrowed from Ning Qing’s bookshelf. She is proud of her newfound “culture,” but realizes she tends to forget what she has just read. Curious about what her roommates are doing, she follows them to Yujing University’s Martial Body Meet.
• From a rooftop, Zhang watches Chen compete in archery. His results are unremarkable overall, though one arrow hits the bull’s-eye. After the event, she sees him casually put an arm around Ning Qing. Ning Qing quickly pushes him away, reassuring Zhang.

Character developments

• Chen Shu remains playful and reluctant to work, but is actively modifying his spell and seeking help to counteract the curse. He insists he has been resisting it, though mostly when Qingqing supervises him.
• Zhang Suannai takes pride in reading and imagines it raises her cultural standing, but discovers she struggles to retain what she reads. Her curiosity and admiration for Ning Qing lead her to secretly follow her roommates.
• Ning Qing remains reserved toward Chen’s teasing familiarity, rejecting his arm around her shoulders.

Significant themes

• Effort versus inertia: Chen’s curse literalizes his laziness, while his spell research and cultivation require him to keep resisting it.
• Self-image and learning: Zhang’s confidence about becoming cultured contrasts humorously with her difficulty absorbing the book’s contents.
• Admiration and jealousy: Zhang’s idealized view of Ning Qing makes Chen’s casual closeness with her startling, even though Ning Qing rejects it.

Character interactions

• Shi Qian and Lan Ming investigate Chen’s curse, identify its likely origin, and advise him on how to reduce its effects.
• Zhang reads Ning Qing’s book and follows Ning Qing and Xiaoxiao to watch the competition.
• After archery, Chen pats Xiaoxiao’s topknot and speaks to Ning Qing; his familiar gesture toward Ning Qing prompts her to push him away and leaves Zhang shocked but relieved.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai returns to the dorm and admits, indirectly, that she followed Ning Qing and Xiaoxiao to Yujing University’s Martial Body Meet. Xiaoxiao confirms they noticed her. Suannai looks forward to Ning Qing’s upcoming birthday dinner, where Chen Shu and his sister will also be present.
• At the Arena Tournament’s intra-school matches, Zhang Yunyan expects an easy first bout against a first-year. Instead, he discovers his opponent is Chen Shu—the helpful “senior” who has been advising him, and who is actually a first-year himself.
• Chen Shu lets the match run for several minutes so Zhang Yunyan can practice using Spells in combat. Chen wins, then identifies a possible flaw in Zhang’s Impact Art: its Rune groups may contain conflicting Runes.
• Asked whether he will continue, Chen chooses to fight on despite a Curse that makes him unusually lazy. He tells Zhang he can explain the Rune issue later at the laboratory.
• After the match, Chen joins Qingqing, who watched as his guardian. He complains about the tournament and considers how many bouts he may need to fight to qualify for the inter-school event. He ultimately lets Ning Qing push him along, and they head to eat.

Character developments

• Zhang Yunyan begins nervous but gains useful combat experience and accepts his defeat graciously. His respect for Chen deepens, even after learning they are both first-years.
• Chen Shu shows generosity as a sparring partner and a teacher, prioritizing Zhang’s practice over an easy win. His laziness and reluctance to keep fighting remain strong, though he continues despite the Curse.
• Ning Qing remains reserved but quietly accommodates Chen, pushing him when he is too tired to walk. Their easy familiarity is apparent.
• Zhang Suannai remains curious about Ning Qing’s relationship with Chen and eagerly anticipates seeing them together at the birthday dinner.

Significant themes

• Learning through defeat: Zhang’s loss is worthwhile because he gains real combat practice and targeted advice.
• Appearances and assumptions: Zhang mistakes Chen for an older student, while Chen’s calm guidance makes him seem more senior than he is.
• Effort versus reluctance: Chen resists the tournament’s demands but still chooses to participate and help others.
• Affection shown through small gestures: Ning Qing’s practical care for Chen contrasts with her usually aloof manner.

Character interactions

• Zhang and Chen’s first bout turns into a friendly instructional spar, followed by mutual respect and plans to continue discussing Zhang’s technique.
• Zhang and Suannai’s brief exchange confirms that she had been following Ning Qing and Xiaoxiao.
• Chen and Ning Qing trade teasing remarks; after he pulls her braid and is slapped, she nevertheless pushes him toward the food, and he calls her “Secretary Ning.”

Key plot points and events

• Ning Qing and Chen Shu share a playful cafeteria lunch. She helps him conserve energy because her birthday is the day after tomorrow, when he plans to cook a feast for her.
• Chen learns that his afternoon tournament opponent is Jiang Lai, his dormmate. Though Jiang initially considers forfeiting, Chen urges him to fight seriously and put on a good showing.
• Ning Qing wishes Chen luck; when he asks for a reward, she promises he can sleep in her bed the night after tomorrow, motivating him to compete.
• Jiang enters the match believing Chen is a skilled Fourth-Tier Cultivator, but he is uncertain how strong Chen is in the Arena. He resolves to start at full strength but hold back if Chen seems in danger.
• At the match, Jiang charges in and tests Chen’s defenses. Chen’s barrier withstands him, and Chen’s counterattack overwhelms Jiang’s force and sends him sliding back.
• Jiang escalates, dodging Chen’s explosive spells and breaking through his barrier with Sword Qi Blast Fist. Chen responds with a barrage of more than a hundred streams of Sword Qi, followed by a massive lightning attack.
• The chapter ends with the lightning fading and Jiang on his knees, unable to stand.

Character developments

• Chen Shu is playful and apparently reluctant to work hard, but he proves to be an exceptionally capable fighter with powerful defenses, precise ranged attacks, and overwhelming lightning magic.
• Jiang Lai shows discipline, tactical judgment, and remarkable combat instincts. His initial confidence gives way to respect for Chen’s skill, though he continues fighting boldly.
• Ning Qing reveals her quiet affection through practical care: she manages Chen’s meal, worries about his workload, and offers him an intimate reward.
• Meng Chunqiu provides comic contrast, arriving mainly to watch Chen get beaten.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and mistaken impressions: Chen’s mild, scholarly persona conceals formidable combat ability.
• Different forms of cultivation: The fight contrasts martial runes and physical techniques with a Spiritual Cultivator’s refined barriers and powerful spells.
• Respectful competition: Chen encourages Jiang to fight without holding back, while Jiang remains concerned about injuring him.
• Affection expressed through everyday care: Ning Qing’s concern is conveyed less through declarations than through small acts and attention to Chen’s needs.

Character interactions

• Ning Qing and Chen banter over food, caregiving, his laziness, and the promised birthday cooking; their teasing reflects growing closeness.
• Chen messages Jiang to fight seriously, while Jiang worries about hurting him and ultimately commits to testing his full ability.
• Chen and Jiang’s match shifts their dynamic from dormmates to respectful rivals, as Jiang discovers just how far beyond his expectations Chen’s combat skill reaches.

Key plot points

• Chen Shu defeats his roommate, Jiang, in just twenty-nine seconds, stunning the crowd and especially Meng Chunqiu, who had assumed Jiang was the stronger fighter. Jiang’s injuries are minor.
• Academy leaders praise both freshmen: Chen Shu for his skill and potential, and Jiang for standing out as a pure Martial Artist. They discuss Chen Shu’s prospects in future competitions and compare their students with promising heirs from other schools.
• Chen Shu asks to skip his next match, joking that his “heart” is injured because his opponent was his roommate. Though urged to gain experience, he withdraws from the evening competition.
• Ning Qing returns to her dorm after spending the day watching Chen Shu. She and Chen Shu arrange a birthday lunch for her, inviting her roommate Zhang Suannai and the others to request dishes.

Character developments

• Chen Shu reveals that his polished, artistic side coexists with exceptional fighting ability. He remains relaxed and evasive about competition, preferring to avoid extra matches, while showing thoughtfulness by checking guests’ food preferences.
• Meng Chunqiu is forced to revise his assumptions about strength after seeing Chen Shu overwhelm Jiang.
• Ning Qing openly acknowledges that she went to watch Chen Shu, showing her growing attachment through her actions and the small warmth Zhang Suannai detects in her when she speaks of him.
• Zhang Suannai is curious about Ning Qing’s relationship with Chen Shu and eager to spend more time with them, though Ning Qing gently sets limits.
• Jiang is shown to be formidable despite losing; his defeat does not diminish the strong reputation he had earned.

Character interactions

• Meng Chunqiu watches Chen Shu’s victory with disbelief, while school leaders exchange compliments and discuss the freshmen’s futures.
• Chen Shu jokes with the leaders about his “heart injury,” then slips away before they can persuade him to compete.
• Ning Qing and Zhang Suannai banter about the match and Ning Qing’s visit to Chen Shu. Ning Qing relays the lunch plans and lets Zhang choose chicken with taro.
• In the group chat, Chen Shu coordinates the birthday menu with Ning Qing, Xiaoxiao, and Banxia, playfully enforcing a one-dish limit while accommodating their requests.

Significant themes

• Unexpected ability: Chen Shu’s artistic talents do not preclude being a powerful fighter; appearances and assumptions can mislead.
• Competition and potential: Teachers weigh immediate performance against long-term development, seeing the freshmen as prospects in a wider contest among schools and traditions.
• Affection expressed through ordinary acts: Watching someone compete, planning a meal, and remembering food preferences reveal closeness more subtly than declarations.
• Humor and reluctance: Chen Shu’s playful excuses and the group’s teasing keep the chapter light even amid a major arena upset.

Key plot points and events

• Chen Shu recovers fully after the previous events, while Meng Chunqiu and Jiang Lai praise his strength. The conversation turns to Ning Qing, whom Meng Chunqiu has never met; he learns she has Celestial Bloodline and that Jiang Lai has seen her before.
• Chen Shu shuts the open balcony window with a spell rather than getting up, then makes a shopping list for a meal he plans to cook. He notes that his curse is easing.
• In the Ancient Cultivator group chat, Zhang Suannai excitedly discusses visiting Chen Shu’s place to eat. She and Chen Shu have secretly made peace, but plan to pretend they are meeting for the first time so Ning Qing will not discover their connection. Zhang worries Ning Qing’s sharp eye will expose them.
• On April 10, Zhang eagerly awaits two events: meeting Chen Shu formally and attending Ning Qing’s birthday gathering. She sees the invitation as evidence that she is finally being accepted by her aloof roommate. She wishes Ning Qing happy birthday and receives the goddess’s characteristically brief reply.
• Ning Qing and her younger sister ride to Ruinning Market, where Chen Shu is waiting. They shop together: Chen Shu selects ingredients, Ning Qing carries the bags, and the younger girl explores nearby stalls while keeping within sight.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen Shu remains laid-back and playful, relying on magic for small conveniences. He is preparing a meal and shares a teasing, familiar bond with Ning Qing.
• Zhang Suannai is thrilled by Ning Qing’s invitation and interprets it as a meaningful step toward friendship. At the same time, she is anxious about concealing her prior relationship with Chen Shu.
• Ning Qing remains reserved, but inviting Zhang to her birthday gathering suggests growing trust and acceptance. Riding with her sister also brings back fond memories of their childhood.
• The younger sister is curious and independent, happily exploring the market while staying close enough to be found.
• Meng Chunqiu and Jiang Lai admire Chen Shu, with Meng Chunqiu’s vanity and joking complaints providing comic relief.

Significant themes

• Growing closeness: Ning Qing’s small invitation carries great emotional weight for Zhang, marking a milestone in their relationship.
• Secrets and playful deception: Zhang and Chen Shu try to hide their past connection, creating anticipation around whether Ning Qing will notice.
• Nostalgia and family bonds: The motorcycle ride recalls Ning Qing and her sister’s childhood, contrasting their present lives as cultivators with their earlier, more ordinary days.
• Everyday magic and humor: Chen Shu uses spells to avoid minor effort, while mundane activities—shopping, chatting, and preparing a meal—anchor the supernatural setting.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai eagerly waits for an excuse to visit Ning Qing and Chen Shu, partly to enjoy their birthday meal and partly to watch Chen Shu get ignored by Ning Qing.
• She messages Ning Qing about bringing a gift. Ning Qing declines a present but asks her to bring a fish, giving Zhang a way to feel she has contributed rather than simply showing up for food.
• Zhang arrives much earlier than planned, carrying the fish and her pet Peach. Xiaoxiao explains that she returned ahead of Ning Qing and Chen Shu because the motorcycle had room for only two.
• In the flower-filled garden, Zhang sees Ning Qing and Chen Shu cooking together. Their quiet, coordinated routine looks so domestic that she briefly imagines them as a long-married couple, then dismisses the thought.
• Zhang introduces herself to Chen with her joking “call me Grandma” line. He plays along warmly, and the group’s understated reactions leave her unsure how her performance landed.
• While Chen and Ning Qing cook, Xiaoxiao takes Zhang to the garden and tells her which three flowers not to pick: each has special significance to Chen or Ning Qing.

Character developments

• Zhang Suannai is excitable, mischievous, and socially theatrical, but also somewhat self-conscious about imposing. Bringing the fish reassures her that she is making a genuine contribution. Her thoughts reveal a lingering fantasy that she and Ning Qing might someday share a life together if Ning Qing were single.
• Ning Qing remains reserved and practical, but shows consideration by finding Zhang a simple way to feel welcome. Her habits around the garden’s flowers also hint at her attentiveness to Chen.
• Chen Shu is warm and hospitable, welcoming Zhang and joking along with her. His comfortable cooperation with Ning Qing makes their relationship appear intimate and settled.
• Xiaoxiao is literal, composed, and dryly funny. She dutifully entertains Zhang, though her idea of fun is “staring into space,” and she quietly reveals how the household’s routines revolve around her sister and Chen.
• Peach roams through the garden, adding to the playful, relaxed atmosphere.

Significant themes

• Belonging and contribution: Zhang’s small gift eases her discomfort about arriving mainly for a meal.
• Intimacy shown through routine: Ning Qing and Chen’s coordinated cooking suggests closeness without overt affection.
• Unspoken attachments: The meaningful flowers and Zhang’s observations imply emotional connections that the characters do not directly discuss.
• Loneliness and imagined futures: Zhang’s private vision of growing old with Ning Qing contrasts with the couple-like bond she witnesses.

Character interactions

• Ning Qing’s brief messages both set Zhang at ease and establish the practical purpose of her visit.
• Zhang teases Xiaoxiao with questions; Xiaoxiao answers literally, producing quiet humor.
• Chen accepts Zhang’s playful introduction in kind and treats her as a welcome guest.
• Xiaoxiao guides Zhang through the garden, sharing personal details about the flowers while keeping her company.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai watches Chen Shu and Ning Qing cook together and notices that the sour, spicy dishes seem tailored to Ning Qing’s preferences. She assumes Chen Shu is a lovesick admirer.
• Chen Banxia arrives with wine. She and Zhang Suannai chat about their names, Banxia’s pharmacology work, and her earlier visit for Chen Shu’s birthday.
• Banxia takes over Xiaoxiao’s swing, and Xiaoxiao obediently pushes her. Zhang Suannai is surprised by how familiar and comfortable the siblings seem with one another. She grows even more suspicious when Xiaoxiao appears to have been fed from the kitchen.
• The group gathers for a large home-cooked meal: Chen Shu, Ning Qing, and Banxia have each contributed dishes, alongside Xiaoxiao’s potatoes and soup.
• Zhang Suannai is startled when Chen Shu removes Ning Qing’s apron and Ning Qing then removes his. Their easy cooperation contradicts her image of Ning Qing as aloof and self-reliant.
• Over dinner, Chen Shu and Ning Qing bicker casually about rice and food, and Ning Qing shares some of her rice with him. Chen Shu proposes a toast for Ning Qing’s eightieth birthday, which she accepts without protest.

Character developments

• Zhang Suannai moves from amused speculation to mounting disbelief. Each ordinary display of affection and trust between Chen Shu and Ning Qing challenges her assumptions about their relationship and Ning Qing’s supposedly distant nature.
• Ning Qing is shown as comfortable receiving care, cooking alongside Chen Shu, and sharing food with him—behavior that contrasts sharply with the aloof image she presents to Zhang.
• Chen Shu acts as a considerate host, preparing dishes, serving Ning Qing rice, and organizing the birthday toast.
• Chen Banxia is lively, sociable, and at ease with the household, especially Xiaoxiao.
• Xiaoxiao is playful and affectionate with the visitors, while also showing familiarity with Chen Shu and Ning Qing.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus reality: Zhang’s fixed idea of Ning Qing as an untouchable Celestial is repeatedly undermined by her warm, everyday behavior.
• Care expressed through routine: Cooking preferred dishes, serving food, sharing rice, and helping with aprons reveal closeness more clearly than grand declarations.
• Belonging and family: The crowded meal and relaxed teasing make the household feel like a close-knit family, though Zhang remains unsure how to interpret it.

Character interactions

• Zhang and Banxia quickly establish a friendly, humorous rapport.
• Banxia and Xiaoxiao interact with comfortable familiarity, while Zhang watches and tries to infer what that means about the sisters’ relationships.
• Chen Shu and Ning Qing work together in the kitchen and exchange casual, affectionate teasing at the table.
• The group shares wine and celebrates Ning Qing’s birthday; her calm acceptance of Chen Shu’s toast is the final blow to Zhang’s assumptions.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai drinks a potent spirit wine and begins a birthday meal hosted by Chen Shu and Chen Banxia. Chen Shu’s unusual, expertly prepared dishes—especially Tofu with Intestines and Brain—win her over completely.
• Suannai eats far beyond fullness, repeatedly returning for rice to accompany the dishes, then tries Ning Qing’s Sour Radish and Old Duck Soup and regrets adding yet more liquid.
• After the meal, Chen Shu and Ning Qing sit together on a garden swing while he rubs Peach’s belly. Suannai watches, overwhelmed by the household’s casual closeness.
• Suannai shares photos and enthusiastic praise of the meal in her group chat, prompting teasing comments from others.
• The little girl invites Suannai and Banxia out for the afternoon. Suannai reluctantly agrees, still stuffed and slightly tipsy; the girl insists Chen Shu and Ning Qing will not come, despite admitting she never asked them.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Suannai shifts from stunned suspicion and embarrassment to wholehearted enjoyment of Chen Shu’s cooking. Her competitive sword-cultivator pride becomes comic justification for overeating. She is also increasingly baffled by the easy intimacy between Chen Shu and Ning Qing.
• Chen Shu comes across as a proud, capable cook who takes satisfaction in how much everyone eats. He shares a quiet, affectionate moment with Ning Qing and casually plans to reuse the soup broth for dinner.
• Ning Qing remains composed and reserved, but her comfortable gesture of wiping oil from Chen Shu’s hand—and her repeated enjoyment of the soup—suggests familiarity and care.
• Chen Banxia encourages Suannai to drink and eat, while the little girl volunteers to clear the dishes for her sister’s birthday and then draws Suannai into an outing.
• Suannai’s group-chat posts turn her private astonishment into public praise, while friends tease her about her change of attitude toward “Silly Cabbage.”

Significant themes

• Food as connection: Chen Shu’s cooking brings the group together and gives Suannai a welcome distraction from unsettling revelations.
• Domestic warmth and intimacy: Shared meals, cleanup, the swing, and small acts of care reveal a close, comfortable household.
• Comic excess and contrast: Suannai’s stern martial identity clashes with her inability to resist the food, while the little girl’s solemn certainty contrasts with her questionable logic.

Key plot points and events

• In the sunny courtyard, Ning Qing asks Chen Shu to sing for her. He plays the Huaiqin and first sings a gentle summer song, then bargains for small favors in exchange for more songs.
• Chen Shu sings “You’re the Only One I Care About,” prompting Ning Qing to wonder how their lives might have unfolded if they had never met. As an Esoteric Sect cultivator, she could eventually learn the answer, but questions whether such a version of herself would truly be her.
• He then sings a few lines of “The Moon Represents My Heart.” Ning Qing kisses him for two seconds, but warns that she will not kiss him voluntarily again for two and a half years.
• On their way to buy groceries, Chen Shu jumps onto Ning Qing’s back. She carries him and playfully bites his hand when he gets too cheeky.
• Returning home, they encounter Zhang Suannai, Xiaoxiao, and Chen Banxia. Zhang is astonished to see Ning Qing carrying Chen Shu; Xiaoxiao advises her not to look, while Banxia wants a photo but misses her chance.
• Chen Shu explains they bought ingredients and dumpling wrappers. The group plans to make dumplings together that evening, with everyone taking home what they make. Banxia complains she is outnumbered and persuades Chen Shu to help her.

Character development

• Ning Qing reveals a more reflective, tender side. The songs lead her to consider how meeting Chen Shu shaped both their lives, and she quietly cherishes his music and affection.
• Chen Shu remains teasing and opportunistic, turning songs into bargaining chips and eagerly seeking closeness. Beneath the joking, his songs express deep devotion.
• Chen Banxia is practical but playful, readily treating Ning Qing and Chen Shu as a couple and insisting on a fair share of the dumpling-making.
• Zhang Suannai is comically stunned by the couple’s affection, while Xiaoxiao responds with calm, matter-of-fact restraint.

Significant themes

• Love and fate: Ning Qing’s questions about alternate lives underline how profoundly their meeting matters to her.
• Affection expressed through music and teasing: Chen Shu’s songs give voice to feelings that the couple otherwise handle with humor and negotiation.
• Everyday intimacy: Their romantic moment is followed by playful carrying, grocery shopping, and a communal meal, blending tenderness with ordinary domestic life.

Character interactions

• Chen Shu and Ning Qing negotiate affection through song, favors, and teasing; her brief kiss is both restrained and deeply meaningful.
• Their playful closeness continues on the walk, where Ning Qing indulges Chen Shu but checks his antics with a bite.
• The others react to the couple in contrasting ways: Zhang with disbelief, Xiaoxiao with quiet acceptance, and Banxia with amused familiarity before joining the household’s plans.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Suannai watches Ning Qing and Chen Shu comfortably garden, cook, and share an intimate ease that clashes with Suannai’s image of Ning as an aloof, romance-averse goddess. Food and a pleasant afternoon briefly distract her.
• At dinner, Suannai enjoys Chen Shu’s cooking—and unexpectedly delicious cake—before everyone wraps dumplings. Chen Shu says he’ll stay overnight and sleep in Ning Qing’s bed; Ning calmly accepts, leaving Suannai stunned.
• Chen Shu gives Suannai dumplings and flowers to take back to the dorm. Once alone, she replays the day, wakes repeatedly in disbelief, and concludes that she really is an idiot for misunderstanding her roommate.
• The next morning, Suannai questions Xiaoxiao about when Ning began liking Chen Shu and why Xiaoxiao calls him “Brother-in-law.” Her probing reveals how deeply both sisters are attached to him, though Xiaoxiao explains it in blunt, circular answers.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Suannai moves from stunned avoidance to obsessive curiosity. Her comic attempts to understand the relationship—especially by bargaining with Xiaoxiao using potatoes—show both her persistence and her naïveté.
• Ning Qing appears cool and self-possessed as usual, but her untroubled closeness with Chen Shu exposes a warm, intimate side Suannai never recognized.
• Chen Shu is caring and capable: he cooks for everyone, helps with the dumplings, gives Suannai flowers, and has long been a steady presence in the sisters’ lives.
• Xiaoxiao is bluntly devoted to Chen Shu. Her answers initially puzzle Suannai, but her private reflections explain that he raised and guided her and Ning Qing with patience and kindness.
• The sisters’ ease with Chen Shu contrasts with Suannai’s outsider perspective. His teasing, practical instructions, and care for both sisters—and his relaxed exchanges with Ning—make their shared domestic intimacy clear.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Ning Qing’s aloof reputation hides a close, affectionate relationship.
• Belonging built through care: Chen Shu’s importance to the sisters comes not from an abstract explanation but from years of patient support.
• Chosen family and gratitude: Xiaoxiao sees Chen Shu as essential to both sisters’ lives and their bond with each other.
• Comic bewilderment: Suannai’s repeated attempts to reason her way through what she witnessed provide the chapter’s humor while highlighting how little she understood her roommate.