Chapter Summaries

Shen Yangge escaped into a pond and discovered that he had become a merman while System 615 had turned into a koi with little memory. When patrolling soldiers spotted him and mistook him for a ghost, their leader approached the pond with his sword drawn.

• Shen Yangge reached the water carrying the unconscious System 615 and discovered that he could breathe underwater.
• System 615 transformed into a koi, while Shen Yangge's legs became a glowing fish tail and his hair turned silver-white.
• Shen Yangge hid underwater when patrolling soldiers approached, but one soldier saw his head and shouted that a ghost was in the pond.
• A soldier dropped his lantern onto the koi, which fled into Shen Yangge's hair, while the others debated whether someone was hiding in the pond.
• The patrol leader drew his sword and approached the pond to investigate.

Shen Yangge was discovered in the estate pond and used his merman charm and a hostage to make the patrolmen hide him in a water-filled tub. As he sought somewhere safe from Ruthis, Chu Xuanzhen woke from a dream of Shen Yangge and murmured, “Shen Zhuanxie.”

• The patrol leader and his men found Shen Yangge in the pond and were captivated by his appearance.
• Shen Yangge discovered that staring into someone’s eyes for three seconds made them lower their guard, then dragged the leader into the pond and took him hostage.
• Shen Yangge forced the patrolmen to fetch a large water-filled tub and carry him somewhere he would not be discovered.
• Chu Xuanzhen woke from a dream of a white fish tail, a bloodstained blade, and pale blue eyes, then murmured, “Shen Zhuanxie.”

After an earthquake shook Capital City, rumors that the late emperor’s resentment caused it spread through the city and palace. When Chu Xuanzhen learned that Lord Shen had gone missing in the Northern States, he resolved to go after him himself.

• Chu Xuanzhen endured a painful episode, clutching a golden dragon scale until an earthquake forced the eunuch to lead him outside.
• Rumors that the late emperor’s resentment had caused the earthquake spread, and the consorts tried to drown them out with counter-rumors.
• The eunuch told Chu Xuanzhen that Consort Xue had taken the Eleventh Prince back to her palace, but Chu Xuanzhen declined to send someone after them.
• Chu Xuanzhen received a secret letter reporting that Lord Shen was missing in the Northern States and tore it apart in anger.
• Remembering Little Liar’s promise to return, Chu Xuanzhen struggled between waiting and pursuing him, then decided to capture him himself.

Shen Yangge claimed to be the River God to persuade the soldiers holding him, using an old flood story to make them believe. When their leader demanded proof, Shen Yangge declared himself the River God beneath the moon, leaving the soldiers stunned.

• Shen Yangge told the soldiers he was a River God who had been trapped in the pond by someone with wicked intentions.
• A soldier recalled a flood from his childhood and said people believed the River God had punished crooked merchants, convincing most of the soldiers that Shen Yangge was telling the truth.
• Shen Yangge accidentally knocked Koi unconscious, then checked on the little fish and tucked it into his hair.
• The soldiers' leader challenged Shen Yangge to prove he was the River God, and Shen Yangge asked him to prove that he was not.
• Shen Yangge raised his glowing tail from the water and declared, "I am the River God!"

Shen Yangge convinced the island patrol that he was a river god and that the Mansion Lord planned to sacrifice the island’s people, while System 615 remained incapacitated. In the capital, Chu Xuanzhen told Liang Wenjin he was leaving, but the chapter ended before he revealed where he was going.

• Shen Yangge made golden droplets hover in the air, persuading the patrol that he had supernatural powers.
• Shen Yangge told the patrol that the Mansion Lord had captured him and intended to use the island’s people to summon an evil god.
• The patrol leader and his men grew more convinced after a mansion pond filled with shimmering golden sand and the Mansion Lord ordered the news suppressed.
• Shen Yangge failed to contact System 615 and fell asleep in the wooden tub while two soldiers watched over him.
• Chu Xuanzhen received Liang Wenjin before leaving the capital and told him he would be away for a while.

Chu Xuanzhen left the capital while Chu Tianyin plotted against Chu Xuanzhi, and Shen Yangge was secretly smuggled out in a water barrel. The shipment passed the city gate but was stopped by a young lady from the City Lord's Residence, who insisted on inspecting it.

• Liang Wenjin apologized after Chu Xuanzhen warned him not to question his orders, and Chu Xuanzhen left the capital with Su Shang and several trusted aides.
• Chu Tianyin refused to visit Chu Xuanzhi, who remained imprisoned and taunted his captors while playing with his chain.
• Two days later, Shen Yangge was hidden in a water barrel and transported out of the city with little koi in his hands.
• A carriage struck the shipment after it passed through the city gate, but Shen Yangge's barrel was not among those knocked over.
• Cuizi tried to inspect the water barrels, and the young lady from the City Lord's Residence demanded that her people check them despite the soldiers' objections.

Miss Cao learned that Lu Manor's guards had hidden a silver-haired, blue-eyed person inside a water barrel and secretly investigated their escape from the city. Meanwhile, Chu Xuanzhen reached the island by ship and heard a battered commoner describe a young man he had seen days earlier.

• Miss Cao let Yue Hanshan and Lu Manor's guards pass, then ordered her people to investigate the water barrels after spotting flecks of golden sand.
• Miss Cao's maid reported that the guards had hidden a silver-haired, blue-eyed person in a barrel, but Miss Cao told her not to inform her father yet.
• Chu Xuanzhen reached the Northern States' seaside pier with Xue Qian and boarded a ship bound for the island.
• A scrawny commoner insulted the rough-looking men who had been released from a dungeon, and they beat him until Chu Xuanzhen's group intervened.
• Chu Xuanzhen questioned the commoner about the young man he had seen, and the commoner's description darkened Chu Xuanzhen's expression.

Xue Qian confronted a gang of burly men after a passenger accused them of mistreating Lord Shen. When the gang admitted their wrongdoing and attacked, Chu Xuanzhen unleashed a brutal slaughter, leaving one man alive for questioning.

• A young passenger told Xue Qian that the burly men had mistreated a boy aboard a ship, and Xue Qian demanded that they confess.
• The burly men denied the accusation until Xue Qian threatened one with his sword and forced him to admit they had acted foolishly.
• A person showed a token to the ship's soldiers, who immediately knelt before the handsome young man, while other passengers came forward to accuse the gang.
• The burly men charged, and Xue Qian knocked them down as Chu Xuanzhen killed several of them and mutilated another.
• Xue Qian kept one burly man alive for questioning about Lord Shen while Chu Xuanzhen continued killing the others, terrifying the passengers.

Chu Xuanzhen watched the civilians leave the ship after its soldiers killed the victims’ captors, while Shen Yangge searched the sea for System 615 and was chased toward shore by an orca. He realized the orca was fascinated by the golden flecks his tail released, but it kept pushing him toward the dock as a horn sounded nearby.

• Chu Xuanzhen sheathed his sword and watched the frightened civilians disembark after the ship reached shore.
• Shen Yangge searched the sea for System 615, which had fled from his side in the form of a little koi.
• Shen Yangge spotted a huge shadow and swam away from the pursuing orca, believing it intended to eat him.
• The orca caught up and repeatedly nudged Shen Yangge, who realized it was following the golden flecks from his tail out of curiosity.
• Shen Yangge heard a horn near the dock, but the orca kept pushing him toward shore when he tried to turn back.

Shen Yangge was pushed toward the shore by an orca just as Chu Xuanzhen arrived on the island. The townspeople spotted a silver-haired figure with a fish tail, and Chu Xuanzhen searched the sea while Xue Qian was knocked overboard.

• The orca pushed Shen Yangge toward the ship, and he tried to avoid being seen by the people on shore.
• Chu Xuanzhen arrived with Xue Qian, and the island lord arranged for them to stay at the Heavenly No. 1 Inn.
• A boy spotted a pale figure in the sea, and the townspeople reported seeing a person with a fish tail before the figure vanished.
• Xue Qian wondered whether the Sea Demon was Lord Shen, then noticed Chu Xuanzhen had gone to the ship's deck to search the sea.
• A pickpocket stole Xue Qian's money pouch, and someone knocked him into the water, where he remembered he could not swim.

Xue Qian was rescued by an orca after being knocked into the sea, then confronted the man who pushed him before an unseen archer killed the suspect. While the Crown Prince searched the sea for Shen Yangge, Shen escaped underwater but was spotted by the orca carrying Chu Xuanzhen.

• An orca carried Xue Qian toward shore, then tossed him onto land after the crowd frightened it away.
• Xue Qian caught and questioned the short man who had pushed him into the sea, but an unseen archer killed the man before he could reveal who gave the order.
• Xue Qian found the Crown Prince watching the sea and realized Lord Shen was missing, while the Crown Prince asked whether Xue Qian had seen him.
• Shen Yangge escaped from the orca and hid underwater, then surfaced far away with System 615 in koi form.
• The orca charged toward Shen Yangge with Chu Xuanzhen standing on its back.

Shen Yangge fled from Chu Xuanzhen into the deep sea, but turned back when Chu Xuanzhen fell into the water. After Chu Xuanzhen kissed him and demanded to know why he had left, Shen Yangge challenged him for taking such a dangerous risk.

• Shen Yangge tried to escape the pursuing Chu Xuanzhen, but the golden specks trailing him gave away his path.
• Chu Xuanzhen fell from the orca's back, and Shen Yangge turned around to rescue him.
• Shen Yangge reached Chu Xuanzhen and lifted him toward the surface, but Chu Xuanzhen kissed him and demanded to know what he had been unable to tell him.
• Chu Xuanzhen reminded Shen Yangge that he had promised to stay by his side forever.
• Shen Yangge pointed out that he had left a letter saying he would return, then angrily questioned why Chu Xuanzhen had risked jumping into the dangerous sea.

Shen Yangge brought Chu Xuanzhen safely to shore, where they kissed, teased each other, and bickered over Chu Xuanzhen undressing. After a crab pinched Shen Yangge’s tail, Chu Xuanzhen sat by the water and called him closer, and Shen Yangge found himself swimming toward him.

• Shen Yangge denied crying from anger and carried Chu Xuanzhen toward a nearby shore after checking that no one was there.
• Chu Xuanzhen gently wiped Shen Yangge’s eyes, asked what he had encountered, and kissed him.
• Shen Yangge splashed Chu Xuanzhen with seawater to vent his frustration, then panicked when Chu Xuanzhen began removing his clothes.
• Shen Yangge tossed Chu Xuanzhen’s robe over his head and warned him not to expose himself outside.
• A crab pinched Shen Yangge’s tail, and he shook it off and flung it away.
• Chu Xuanzhen sat at the water’s edge and called Shen Yangge closer, and Shen Yangge swam toward him despite himself.

Shen Yangge tried to call things even with Chu Xuanzhen, but Chu Xuanzhen refused to forgive his repeated attempts to leave and held him on the shore. The chapter ended with Chu Xuanzhen calling Shen Yangge’s defiance “high treason.”

• Chu Xuanzhen pulled Shen Yangge from the sea and held him despite Shen Yangge insisting they were even.
• Shen Yangge struggled against Chu Xuanzhen, scolded him, and worried about the missing System 615.
• Chu Xuanzhen held Shen Yangge on the shore, stroked his hair, and said he smelled of the sea.
• Shen Yangge admitted that he kept lying while Chu Xuanzhen indulged him, causing Chu Xuanzhen to turn cold and accuse him of always trying to escape.
• Chu Xuanzhen kissed Shen Yangge and said he would settle their accounts one by one.
• Chu Xuanzhen called Shen Yangge’s insolence high treason, making Shen Yangge’s heart pound.

Shen Yangge realized seawater was causing his body to burn, itch, and scale over, so Chu Xuanzhen left to take him to the Freshwater Zone. While Shen Yangge waited, an orca played with him and System 615 warned that it had brought a whole pod.

• Shen Yangge's skin grew hot and painful after he entered the sea, and Chu Xuanzhen noticed his eyes had turned red.
• Shen Yangge realized he was allergic to seawater and told Chu Xuanzhen, who ordered him to wait while he went ashore.
• Shen Yangge stayed in the water as an orca chased System 615 and repeatedly tried to toss him into the air.
• System 615 hid in Shen Yangge's hair, then warned him that the orca had brought a whole pod of its kind.

Shen Yangge fled a pod of playful orcas onto shore, where a man bagged him and tried to steal him away. Chu Xuanzhen returned in time to rescue him and confronted the would-be kidnapper, who revealed he was the City Lord’s adopted son.

• Shen Yangge escaped the pursuing orcas by rolling onto shore, while they splashed and leaped around him.
• A man dropped a burlap sack over Shen Yangge and carried him away, promising to take him home and protect him.
• Chu Xuanzhen appeared in the grove and snatched Shen Yangge from the man’s shoulder.
• Shen Yangge called for Chu Xuanzhen to release him, and Chu Xuanzhen untied the sack and asked where the man had touched him.
• Shen Yangge said the man had touched him only while putting him in the sack, and Chu Xuanzhen drew his sword as the man declared he was the City Lord’s adopted son.

Chu Xuanzhen punished the city lord's adopted son for threatening him and arranged for Shen Yangge to be moved to a freshwater pond, where he recovered from the saltwater's effects. After waking, Shen Yangge learned more about the system's punishment and remained consumed by his desire to kill Ruthis and see Chu Xuanzhen ascend the throne.

• The city lord's adopted son offered Chu Xuanzhen a residence with a freshwater pond in exchange for his life, and Chu Xuanzhen cut off five of his fingers before accepting the offer.
• Shen Yangge slept in the wooden tub while Chu Xuanzhen had the wounded man taken away.
• Shen Yangge woke in a pond and learned from System 615 that they were away from Chu Xuanzhen.
• Shen Yangge asked System 615 why punishments could affect other people when special privileges could not, and the system guessed that the punishment had been imposed to control him.
• Shen Yangge examined his new pale blue clothes and played with his tail while thinking about killing Ruthis and helping Chu Xuanzhen ascend the throne.
• Shen Yangge heard a pebble splash into the pond and looked toward the sound.

Shen Yangge mistook Xia Zao’s terrified offer to be eaten for a meal invitation, and the servant jumped into his pool just as Chu Xuanzhen returned. Chu Xuanzhen saw Xia Zao clutch Shen Yangge’s tail and appeared to suspect Shen Yangge of flirting with another man.

• Xia Zao introduced himself as the servant Chu Xuanzhen had sent and explained that he had thrown a stone because he feared Shen Yangge was a monster.
• Shen Yangge asked where Chu Xuanzhen was, and Xia Zao mistakenly took his question about food as a request to eat him.
• Xia Zao jumped into the pool and offered himself as Shen Yangge’s meal.
• Chu Xuanzhen unexpectedly returned, and Shen Yangge knocked Xia Zao into the water with his tail.
• Xia Zao grabbed Shen Yangge’s tail while trying to save himself, and Shen Yangge flung him onto the bank.
• Chu Xuanzhen looked from Xia Zao to Shen Yangge, seeming to suspect that Shen Yangge had been getting involved with another man.

Shen Yangge denied eating Xia Zao, but Chu Xuanzhen kissed him in the pond while the servant watched. After Shen Yangge swam out of reach, Chu Xuanzhen asked whether he was defying an imperial decree.

• Shen Yangge told Chu Xuanzhen that Xia Zao had jumped into the pond himself and that he had not intended to eat him.
• Xia Zao apologized for misunderstanding Shen Yangge, then knelt and awaited punishment.
• Chu Xuanzhen seized Shen Yangge’s wrists and kissed him twice in front of Xia Zao.
• Shen Yangge broke free and swam away, convinced Chu Xuanzhen was trying to make him admit fault.
• Chu Xuanzhen called Shen Yangge back and asked if he was defying an imperial decree.

Shen Yangge refused to emerge from the pond while Chu Xuanzhen drew out masked attackers, and the two fought them off with Xia Zao caught in the middle. After Shen Yangge slaughtered the attackers who entered the water, someone called Chu Xuanzhen by name.

• Shen Yangge submerged himself to avoid Chu Xuanzhen, while Xia Zao knelt nearby and feared for his life.
• Masked men surrounded Chu Xuanzhen, who fought them with his longsword as Xia Zao hid behind a pillar.
• Shen Yangge sent a column of water crashing over several attackers, giving Chu Xuanzhen a chance to kill them.
• Xia Zao warned Chu Xuanzhen that Shen Yangge was in danger, then dodged an attacker by crawling beneath the corridor boards.
• Chu Xuanzhen killed the man attacking Xia Zao, while Shen Yangge slaughtered the men who entered the pond.
• Xia Zao emerged to find the pond red with blood and Shen Yangge floating in it, then someone called, "Chu Xuanzhen."