Chapter Summaries

Shen Yangge completed his training and flew to Capital City to deliver Chu Xuanzhen’s secret letter, narrowly escaping an eagle attack along the way. After the letter reached the Xue Residence and prompted the order to send troops north, Shen Yangge was locked in a cage and spent the night missing Chu Xuanzhen.

• After two days of training, Shen Yangge set out with Chu Xuanzhen’s secret letter and received a farewell from Chu Xuanzhen and the others.
• An eagle attacked Shen Yangge in flight, but Chu Xuanzhen shot it down with an arrow.
• With System 615 guiding him, Shen Yangge reached Capital City and delivered the letter to the Xue Residence, where he met Xue Qian instead of the great general.
• Xue Qian showed the letter to his eldest brother, who ordered the troops sent north.
• The Xue brothers shut Shen Yangge in a cage, where he longed for Chu Xuanzhen and watched the moon.

Shen Yangge escaped the Xue Residence as a bird, changed back into a human, and asked General Xue Pingyuan to take him north. After returning from the storeroom, he was spotted by Xue Qian, who realized he was the little blue bird.

• Xue Qian discovered that Shen Yangge refused to eat bugs, and Shen Yangge escaped the birdcage by pecking Xue Qian’s hand.
• After hiding in a storeroom and changing back into a human, Shen Yangge disguised himself as a servant and stole a roast chicken from the kitchen.
• Xue Pingyuan found Shen Yangge eating and told him the army would march north the next morning; Shen Yangge asked to go with him.
• System 615 reminded Shen Yangge that the male lead was close to ascending the throne, and Shen Yangge wondered whether he could return to this world after completing his mission.
• Shen Yangge returned to the storeroom, changed into his own clothes, and ran into Xue Qian, who noticed a blue feather and deduced that Shen Yangge was the bird.

Shen Yangge learned why Shen Zhi had called him a monster, then traveled north with Xue Pingyuan’s army to reunite with Chu Xuanzhen. He found the mountain base devastated and raced toward a cave, fearing something had happened to Chu Xuanzhen.

• Xue Qian mistook Shen Yangge’s changed temperament for proof that he was a demon and secretly kept a blue feather.
• Shen Yangge visited Shen Mother, who told him he had been born without breath and with strange markings that vanished after lightning struck.
• Shen Yangge set out with Xue Pingyuan’s troops, which defeated forces sent by the Fourth Prince and fought through the garrison at Luquan Avenue.
• Shen Yangge and the army reached the northern mountain and found its camps destroyed, with bloodstains across the grass.
• Shen Yangge declared that the survivors must be in a cave and galloped off to find them.

Shen Yangge admitted that he loved Chu Xuanzhen and raced back to the cave, where he found Chu Xuanzhen’s bloodstained Ceremonial Sword broken but no sign of him. As survivors emerged from the cave, Shen Yangge demanded to know where Chu Xuanzhen was, and the Eighth Prince called out to him from behind.

• Shen Yangge confessed to System 615 that he loved Chu Xuanzhen, then swam across the river and hurried to the cave.
• Shen Yangge found Chu Xuanzhen’s bloodstained Ceremonial Sword in the grass, and it broke in two as he picked it up.
• System 615 reassured Shen Yangge that Chu Xuanzhen could not be dead because the world remained intact.
• The cave survivors came out to greet the Xue family’s troops, while Shen Yangge watched for Chu Xuanzhen.
• Shen Yangge seized the last person to leave the cave and demanded to know where Chu Xuanzhen was, but the Eighth Prince called to him before the man could answer.

Shen Yangge learned that Chu Xuanzhen had gone with three trusted men to meet Jiang Heming, so he joined the Eighth Prince and the Xue brothers on the journey to the Jiang Family Manor. There, Shen Yangge was allowed inside because the guards recognized him as the young man Jiang Qinghuan was seeking, and he came face-to-face with Jiang Heming.

• Shen Yangge returned with Chu Xuanzhen's broken Ceremonial Sword, and the Eighth Prince explained that Chu Xuanzhen had left to see Jiang Heming with three trusted men.
• Shen Yangge insisted on accompanying the Eighth Prince and Xue Pingyuan, and Xue Qian helped him rest before their journey.
• After a day and a night on horseback, the group reached the mountain below the Jiang Family Manor, where the guards let Xue Pingyuan and the Eighth Prince pass.
• Shen Yangge claimed he had come to see the young lady, and the guards recognized him from a picture and let him go up with the others.
• At the manor, Shen Yangge entered the main hall and found that Jiang Heming looked different from the man described in the original novel.

Shen Yangge struck a bargain with Jiang Heming: if he found Chu Xuanzhen, Jiang Heming would let the Crown Prince leave, but Shen Yangge would have to stay if he failed. Meanwhile, Chu Xuanzhen’s men escaped the Dungeon without him, and the guards found him still in his cell.

• Jiang Heming concealed that Chu Xuanzhen had arrived at the manor, while Jiang Qinghuan repeatedly watched Shen Yangge.
• Shen Yangge offered to find Chu Xuanzhen, and Jiang Heming agreed to release the Crown Prince if Shen Yangge succeeded or keep Shen Yangge at the manor if he failed.
• Shen Yangge privately showed a written message to Xue Pingyuan, the Eighth Prince, and Xue Qian in the guest room.
• Chu Xuanzhen’s trusted men staged a distraction, subdued the Dungeon guards, and took their keys, but none opened his cell.
• Chu Xuanzhen ordered his men to escape without him, and the next patrol found him still sitting in his cell with a small blue feather.

Shen Yangge searched the Jiang Family estate for Chu Xuanzhen and used his little dragon form to slip past the watchers. He found Chu Xuanzhen in a hidden underground cell, where their eyes met.

• Chu Xuanzhen stayed in the dungeon, revealing that his capture by Jiang Heming had been part of his plan.
• Shen Yangge searched the estate while Jiang Family servants watched him, and he noticed they reacted anxiously when he headed down a particular path.
• Shen Yangge followed the trail of dried blood, but the servants blocked his way before he could reach the suspected prison.
• Shen Yangge turned into a corridor and vanished from the watchers, then transformed into his little dragon form and followed Chu Xuanzhen's lingering scent.
• Shen Yangge entered a hidden underground passage behind a furtive figure and found Chu Xuanzhen in a cell.
• Chu Xuanzhen raised his head, and his gaze met Shen Yangge's in midair.

Shen Yangge returned to Chu Xuanzhen’s cell, where Cao Muzhe revealed that he was working for the Crown Prince and reported that nearly all evidence against Jiang Heming had been collected. Reunited with Chu Xuanzhen, Shen Yangge was reminded of the danger he had faced and struggled with his feelings for him.

• Shen Yangge slipped into Chu Xuanzhen’s cell as Cao Muzhe arrived and mistakenly bowed to him as the Divine Dragon.
• Cao Muzhe told Shen Yangge that he served the Crown Prince, and Chu Xuanzhen confirmed it.
• Cao Muzhe reported that they had gathered almost all evidence against Jiang Heming, with only the Liangzhou headless female corpse case remaining.
• Cao Muzhe left the cell key ring with Chu Xuanzhen and departed.
• Shen Yangge transformed into a boy, embraced Chu Xuanzhen, and was asked whether he had encountered danger.
• Shen Yangge remembered nearly losing his life and seeing Chu Xuanzhen’s broken sword, then silently confronted his feelings for him.

Shen Yangge reunited with Chu Xuanzhen in the cell and tried to soothe him after revealing the danger he had faced. At midnight, Jiang Heming entered with venomous creatures and declared his plan to steal Chu Xuanzhen’s identity, but Chu Xuanzhen stopped the creatures and Shen Yangge struck Jiang Heming.

• Shen Yangge hugged Chu Xuanzhen, told him he had nearly failed to return, and then recounted his recent hardships.
• After midnight, Shen Yangge heard someone approach, and Chu Xuanzhen hid him as Jiang Heming unlocked the cell door.
• Jiang Heming explained that he planned to use the Body-Swapping Technique to take Chu Xuanzhen’s place and seize the throne.
• Jiang Heming sent poisonous creatures toward Chu Xuanzhen, who scattered white powder that immobilized many of them.
• Jiang Heming rushed at Chu Xuanzhen, but Shen Yangge struck him across the face with his golden tail.

Shen Yangge revealed himself as a golden dragon while Chu Xuanzhen confronted Jiang Heming in the Dungeon. After Jiang Heming triggered a hidden earthquake and spike trap, Chu Xuanzhen pursued him, and Jiang Heming escaped through a passage behind a stone wall.

• Shen Yangge slapped Jiang Heming, whose venomous creatures turned on him after a snake bit him.
• Chu Xuanzhen pulled Shen Yangge into his arms and wiped his tail while Jiang Heming tried to reach a hidden corner.
• Jiang Heming activated a mechanism that shook the Dungeon, blocked the exit with a boulder, and fired spikes from the walls.
• Chu Xuanzhen dodged the spikes, told Shen Yangge to stay put, and confronted Jiang Heming.
• Jiang Heming realized Shen Yangge was a real golden dragon and opened a crack in the stone wall to escape inside.

Chu Xuanzhen and Shen Yangge escaped the collapsing dungeon while Xue Pingyuan’s soldiers captured Jiang Heming outside. Chu Xuanzhen reunited with his rescuers, leaving Jiang Heming stunned and demanding to know how he got out.

• Chu Xuanzhen led Shen Yangge through the underground passage, and Shen Yangge suspected that Chu Xuanzhen had let Jiang Heming capture him as part of a plan.
• The passage exit collapsed, and Shen Yangge used his golden glow to light the darkness as Jiang Heming escaped and gloated outside.
• Xue Pingyuan arrested Jiang Heming for attempted regicide, while Xue Qian threatened him for the dungeon entrance; Jiang Heming refused to reveal it.
• Chu Xuanzhen emerged from the dungeon and ordered Xue Pingyuan to bring Jiang Heming to him, while keeping Shen Yangge concealed in his arms.
• Jiang Heming stared at Chu Xuanzhen and demanded to know how he had escaped.

Jiang Heming unleashed his gu insects after escaping his bonds, but Chu Xuanzhen resisted his venomous centipede and wounded him. Jiang Heming lured Chu Xuanzhen into a hidden trap, then reappeared to face the remaining soldiers as swarms of poisonous creatures emerged.

• Jiang Heming broke his restraints and transformed, prompting Xue Pingyuan to order most of the soldiers to fall back.
• Jiang Heming sent a centipede to bite Chu Xuanzhen, but it exploded before it could harm him.
• Chu Xuanzhen attacked Jiang Heming, who was wounded and discovered that his decades-raised gu bug tried to crawl into Chu Xuanzhen.
• Jiang Heming released more bugs and fled, while Chu Xuanzhen, Xue Pingyuan, and Xue Qian pursued him.
• Chu Xuanzhen vanished into a trap Jiang Heming had prepared, and Jiang Heming reappeared behind the soldiers.
• Jiang Heming declared his restored strength and summoned countless bugs, snakes, and scorpions against the soldiers.

Xue Pingyuan and the others fled as Jiang Heming’s venomous creatures swarmed down the mountain, while Chu Xuanzhen and Shen Yangge escaped the underground pit. Shen Yangge’s dragon bloodline disrupted Jiang Heming’s control of the creatures as the estate burned, leaving Jiang Heming shaken.

• Xue Pingyuan ordered his soldiers to retreat, and he slapped Xue Qian into realizing he needed to flee; Xue Qian then hurried off.
• Xue Pingyuan warned the Eighth Prince about the swarm, and the prince tumbled downhill before Xue Pingyuan caught and carried the fleeing men.
• Chu Xuanzhen cut his wrist to repel the venomous creatures in the pit, and Shen Yangge stopped himself from licking the wound after 615 reminded him of dragon saliva’s side effects.
• Chu Xuanzhen activated a hidden switch that brought them to the surface, where Jiang Heming demanded to know how they had escaped.
• Shen Yangge confronted Jiang Heming, and his superior bloodline threw the creatures into chaos as the estate caught fire.

Jiang Qinghuan tried to reach her transformed father as Chu Xuanzhen fought Jiang Heming, but the battle ended with Chu Xuanzhen and Shen Yangge trapped in a burning courtyard. When Chu Xuanzhen threw Shen Yangge out to save him, Shen Yangge fought to return after System 615 warned that the world was collapsing, and he finally understood Chu Xuanzhen’s words.

• Jiang Qinghuan recognized her father by his scar, but a servant dragged her away as insects swarmed toward her.
• Shen Yangge helped Chu Xuanzhen fend off Jiang Heming’s creatures, but Jiang Heming caught Chu Xuanzhen’s sword and hurled him into the flames.
• The Eighth Prince and Xue Pingyuan fled from the mountain as Jiang Heming turned his attention toward the soldiers below.
• Chu Xuanzhen protected Shen Yangge inside his sleeve while searching for a way out of the burning courtyard.
• Chu Xuanzhen threw Shen Yangge out of the fire, and Shen Yangge tried to return after System 615 warned him to save the male lead.
• Shen Yangge deciphered what Chu Xuanzhen had said as he charged back toward him.

Shen Yangge transformed into a golden dragon, rescued Chu Xuanzhen, and brought him safely to Xue Pingyuan's army after Jiang Heming died from the gu worms in his body. As Shen Yangge fell asleep in Chu Xuanzhen's sleeve, he began shrinking, leaving Chu Xuanzhen uneasy.

• Shen Yangge swept away the collapsing structures, carried Chu Xuanzhen to safety, and left Jiang Heming to be devoured by the gu worms inside him.
• Shen Yangge sheltered Chu Xuanzhen from the rain and flew until he found the troops led by Xue Pingyuan.
• The soldiers knelt before Shen Yangge's dragon form, and Chu Xuanzhen reunited with Xue Pingyuan and discussed what had happened.
• The Eighth Prince realized that the little golden dragon was Shen Yangge, while Second Young Master Xue worried about Shen Yangge's absence.
• Shen Yangge curled up in Chu Xuanzhen's sleeve and fell asleep, but began shrinking until Chu Xuanzhen uncovered him and called his name in alarm.

Chu Xuanzhen watched Shen Yangge shrink into an unconscious palm-sized man and hid him in his robes. As the council considered how to evade the Fourth Prince’s allies on the route north, the Eighth Prince accidentally exposed Shen Yangge, leaving Chu Xuanzhen to dismiss the meeting and Xue Pingyuan to prepare porridge for when he woke.

• Chu Xuanzhen tried to wake the tiny Shen Yangge, but he did not respond, and Chu Xuanzhen tucked him inside his robes before joining the council.
• Xue Pingyuan explained that the Fourth Prince had bribed local officials along the northern route, while the Eighth Prince suggested approaching Shen Fuming for help.
• The Eighth Prince tugged a tuft of hair beneath Chu Xuanzhen’s collar, causing the unconscious Shen Yangge to fall onto the map and startling everyone in the tent.
• Chu Xuanzhen lifted Shen Yangge, sent the Eighth Prince to feed the horses, and dismissed the council.
• Xue Pingyuan ordered plain rice porridge for Shen Yangge in case he was hungry when he woke.

Chu Xuanzhen watched over the unconscious Shen Yangge while System 615 hid its inability to wake him. When Shen Yangge vanished from the camp, Chu Xuanzhen’s illness flared up, and the Eighth Prince tried to contain the ensuing crisis.

• Chu Xuanzhen kept watch over the unconscious Shen Yangge, while System 615 stayed silent because its host was recovering and it feared erasure by Database.
• On the second morning, Chu Xuanzhen summoned the army physician, who examined the tiny Shen Yangge and found only slight blood deficiency.
• Chu Xuanzhen tied a red thread from Shen Yangge’s wrist to his own finger.
• On the third day, Chu Xuanzhen woke to find Shen Yangge gone and the red thread broken, then searched the bedding in panic.
• Chu Xuanzhen questioned a soldier outside the tent and drew his sword, while the Eighth Prince ordered the soldier away and recognized the signs of an episode.

Shen Yangge woke in his tiny form while an eagle carried him away, and learned the Database had ordered him to stay away from Chu Xuanzhen and fulfill his destined death. He rejected that fate, escaped the eagle’s grasp, and returned to adult size, leaving him on the ground beside the fallen eagles.

• The Eighth Prince tried to calm Chu Xuanzhen, but Chu Xuanzhen declared that the soldier had abandoned his post and hurried out of camp.
• Shen Yangge woke as a tiny human being carried by an eagle and learned from System 615 that the Database had ordered him to return to his destined death.
• Shen Yangge tore into the eagle carrying him, causing it to drop him as another eagle attacked and fought it in midair.
• Shen Yangge hid in a treetop, admitted he wanted to remain with Chu Xuanzhen, and waited until the eagles had both fallen.
• Shen Yangge returned to adult size with dragon horns and golden eyes, climbed down from the tree, and faced the fallen eagles with an evil smile.

Shen Yangge wandered through the forest and encountered a prince from Western Liang, whose party had secretly entered Great Chu. Mistaken for the Divine Dragon, Shen Yangge was claimed as the prince’s deity as he learned that more Western Liang groups were infiltrating the country.

• After eating and resting, Shen Yangge wandered through the forest without System 615’s guidance and heard a mounted party approaching.
• Shen Yangge hid as a Western Regions prince and his men discussed entering the Central Plains, but an arrow exposed his hiding place.
• Shen Yangge pretended to have escaped from Capital City, and a Central Plains sycophant identified him as Great Chu’s Divine Dragon.
• The sycophant urged the prince to claim Shen Yangge, and the prince declared him the deity served by the Western Liang Palace.
• Shen Yangge noticed the party carried Latest-Model Weapons and learned that multiple Western Liang groups had secretly infiltrated Great Chu.
• After Shen Yangge washed, the prince tried to kiss his hand, but Shen Yangge pulled it away.

Shen Yangge suspected the Database was hiding a truth connected to Chu Xuanzhen and resolved to investigate it himself. Meanwhile, after finding Shen Yangge’s clothes in the forest, Chu Xuanzhen left a hidden lifeline, and the Eighth Prince feared what Great Chu would become if its chosen ruler were lost.

• Shen Yangge realized the Database might be blocking him from learning the truth about Chu Xuanzhen and questioned System 615 about its repair and contract.
• System 615 admitted it could not remember the contract clearly, and Shen Yangge decided to verify the truth for himself.
• After Jiang Family Manor fell, the Japanese pirates’ plans were repeatedly discovered and their men were killed or arrested.
• Five days later, Chu Xuanzhen found Shen Yangge’s clothes beside a pile of stones in the forest, folded them, and marked a tree as a reminder of a possible escape route.
• The Eighth Prince recognized the mark as a sign that Chu Xuanzhen was preparing to stake his life on survival and feared the collapse of Great Chu without him.