Chapter Summaries

Lou Yunxiao apologized to Ning Ke for hurting him over the ribbon, and the two reconciled over wine beneath the osmanthus tree. As Ning Ke helped Lou Yunxiao become accepted by the disciples, winter arrived and the Sword Sect prepared to open the Sword Tomb.

• Lou Yunxiao realized he had lost control during the spar, apologized to Ning Ke, and left with his ribbon while Ning Ke explained that he had provoked him.
• Ning Xiaoxiao warned Ning Ke to stay away from Lou Yunxiao, but later Lou Yunxiao brought Ning Ke wound medicine and sincerely apologized.
• Ning Ke invited Lou Yunxiao to drink beneath the osmanthus tree, where Lou Yunxiao spoke fondly of the big sister who had saved him and then fell asleep.
• Ning Ke carried Lou Yunxiao to bed and privately assured Xiao Yuan that he could keep his feelings separate from his role.
• Ning Ke continued sparring with Lou Yunxiao and involving him with the disciples, who gradually warmed to him.
• Winter arrived, and the Sword Sect prepared to open the Sword Tomb so its disciples could choose swords.

Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao entered the Sword Tomb, where Ning Xiaoxiao acquired the sword Jinglan and the divine swords Pale Silver and Red Cloud chose Lou Yunxiao and Ning Ke. Ning Ke’s quest advanced to 20 percent after he claimed Red Cloud.

• Gao Ze and the supervising elders opened the Sword Tomb, and Lou Yunxiao used Foxfire to warm Ning Ke as they entered.
• Ning Xiaoxiao rushed toward Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao with a sword, so Lou Yunxiao froze her to stop her from crashing into them.
• Ning Xiaoxiao kept Jinglan after Ning Ke explained that the sword had chosen her.
• Pale Silver and Red Cloud emerged from the Sword Pool and flew to Lou Yunxiao and Ning Ke.
• Lou Yunxiao took Pale Silver, and Ning Ke grasped Red Cloud, triggering a system notification that his second-stage quest progress had reached 20 percent.

Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao claimed the Twin Swords, and Gao Ze warned that the seals on the great demons were loosening. On the way to Ning Family Village for New Year, Ning Ke explored the Golden Silk Wooden Token and glimpsed a mysterious talisman before Lou Yunxiao woke him.

• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao recognized Pale Silver and Red Cloud as Twin Swords, claimed them as their masters, and learned from Gao Ze that the great demons’ seals were weakening.
• Gao Ze kept the danger from the disciples and told them they could go home for the New Year or stay at the sect.
• Ning Ke invited Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao to spend the New Year at Ning Xiaoxiao’s family home, and they set off aboard Ning Ke’s warm Flying Ship.
• Ning Ke examined the Golden Silk Wooden Token and rapidly learned to draw several talismans from its contents.
• Ning Ke saw an enormous talisman resembling a gravestone, felt something stir beneath it, and woke when Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao called to him.

Ning Ke put away the Golden Silk Wooden Token and tried to coax the sulking Lou Yunxiao into carrying him through the snow. As Lou Yunxiao carried him, Ning Ke remembered his family and confessed that he had lied, leaving the reason for his apology unresolved.

• Ning Ke agreed to teach Ning Xiaoxiao the contents of the Golden Silk Wooden Token, while Xiao Yuan unlocked a side quest tied to the token.
• Ning Ke realized Lou Yunxiao had gone outside after he slapped his hand away and ignored him.
• Ning Ke tried to coax Lou Yunxiao by pretending to hurt his ankle, and Lou Yunxiao returned and carried him on his back.
• As Lou Yunxiao carried him through the snowy woods, Ning Ke remembered his family and said he missed home.
• Ning Ke told Lou Yunxiao that his home was far away and apologized for lying to him.

Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao visited Ning Xiaoxiao’s adoptive family and shared a bed that night. Lou Yunxiao suspected Ning Ke might be his big sister because they had the same scent, but Ning Ke’s teasing seemed to put the suspicion to rest before he confessed he loved Lou Yunxiao.

• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao reconciled as Lou Yunxiao promised to help Ning Ke return home, then they joined Ning Xiaoxiao at Ning Family Village.
• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao brought gifts to Ning Xiaoxiao’s adoptive parents and shared an evening meal with the family.
• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao shared a bed, and Ning Ke cuddled Lou Yunxiao to keep him warm.
• Lou Yunxiao recognized Ning Ke’s scent as the same one he remembered from his big sister and wondered whether they were the same person.
• Ning Ke joked that he would give Lou Yunxiao a handmade sachet, then told him that Lou Yunxiao was the person he loved.

Ning Ke hid his identity as Lou Yunxiao brought home a captured wolf demon, and he persuaded his senior brother and the villagers to spare the wolf until they learned whether it had killed anyone. Left alone with the wolf pup, Ning Ke warned him not to expose his identity and demanded to know if he had ever killed anyone.

• Ning Ke apologized after teasing Lou Yunxiao about matters of the heart, and Lou Yunxiao warned him to take such things seriously.
• Ning Ke woke to firecrackers and joined the villagers as Lou Yunxiao returned carrying a frozen wolf demon who had stolen sheep and injured people.
• Lou Yunxiao drew his sword and asked Ning Ke whether he should kill the wolf, while the wolf pup recognized Ning Ke as the Demon Venerable.
• Ning Ke suggested sparing the wolf if he had not killed anyone, and the villagers agreed that he should be punished rather than killed.
• Ning Ke took the wolf pup aside, ordered him to keep Ning Ke's identity secret, and asked whether he had ever killed anyone; the wolf pup denied it.

Ning Ke comforted Lou Yunxiao after the city crowd triggered painful memories, then joined Ning Xiaoxiao at a talisman stall, where Zhuang Yusheng asked him to become his dao companion.

• Ning Ke compensated the villagers and made the wolf cub guard Ning Family Village for a year before taking Ning Xiaoxiao and Lou Yunxiao to Nantong City.
• Lou Yunxiao became overwhelmed by memories and darkness in the crowded city, and Ning Ke pulled him into an embrace until he calmed down.
• Lou Yunxiao asked Ning Ke to hold his hand, and Ning Ke led him toward Ning Xiaoxiao.
• Ning Ke found Ning Xiaoxiao competing with Zhuang Yusheng in drawing talismans and praised her efforts after she lost.
• Zhuang Yusheng blushed and asked Ning Ke whether he had a dao companion and would be willing to be with him.

Zhuang Yusheng confessed to Ning Ke, who rejected him by claiming he already liked someone, then spent the evening exploring Nantong City with Zhuang, Lou Yunxiao, and Ning Xiaoxiao. Lou Yunxiao grew troubled wondering who Ning Ke liked, but Ning Ke later revealed the confession was only an excuse, leaving Lou relieved and smiling.

• Zhuang Yusheng fell for Ning Ke at first sight and asked him to give them a chance, but Ning Ke said he already liked someone.
• Zhuang Yusheng refused to give up and showed Ning Ke, Lou Yunxiao, and Ning Xiaoxiao around Nantong City.
• Ning Ke and Zhuang Yusheng played music together on a Flower Boat while Lou Yunxiao wondered whether Ning Ke might like a man.
• Ning Ke gave Lou Yunxiao a sword tassel as a souvenir, and Zhuang Yusheng said goodbye after inviting him to meet again at the Sect Tournament.
• Lou Yunxiao tried to hide his curiosity about Ning Ke's love interest, but Ning Ke admitted that he had only claimed to like someone to reject Zhuang Yusheng.

Ning Ke promised the blind Lou Yunxiao that he would be the first person he saw if his sight ever returned, while continuing to conceal his identity. After months of training, the two prepared to attend the Sect Tournament in Zhongdu City, where Ning Ke had a surprise of his own in store.

• Ning Ke promised Lou Yunxiao he would stand before him when his sight returned, and Lou Yunxiao relaxed into his embrace.
• Ning Ke, Lou Yunxiao, and their companions left Ning Family Village for the Sword Sect, and Ning Ke entrusted Silver Gray with protecting the villagers while keeping his identity secret.
• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao trained for the Sect Tournament, reaching the peak mid Golden Core stage and late Golden Core stage respectively.
• Ning Ke defeated Lou Yunxiao in a training match and teased him about saving his sword intent for the tournament.
• The Sword Sect disciples traveled by Flying Ship to Zhongdu City, where Lou Yunxiao agreed to go wherever Ning Ke wanted.

Ning Ke took Lou Yunxiao around Zhongdu City, had their portrait painted, and brought him to a pleasure district. Lou Yunxiao grew jealous as Ning Ke enjoyed the attention of the women and pulled him into his arms.

• Ning Ke held Lou Yunxiao's hand as they explored Zhongdu City and sampled street food.
• Ning Ke persuaded Lou Yunxiao to pose for a portrait, then gave the painting to him to keep.
• Ning Ke took Lou Yunxiao to a pleasure district, where Lou Yunxiao reluctantly followed him inside.
• Ning Ke drank and chatted with the women while Lou Yunxiao refused their attention.
• When a woman tried to feed Ning Ke a grape, Lou Yunxiao pulled him into his arms and angrily demanded that he stop his nonsense.

Ning Ke woke after a drunken night at a brothel and learned from Xiao Yuan that he had kissed and confessed affection for Lou Yunxiao. Lou Yunxiao concealed what happened, and the chapter ended with him asking Ning Ke to tie his ribbon back on.

• Lou Yunxiao drove the women away after becoming jealous of Ning Ke’s closeness with them.
• Ning Ke removed Lou Yunxiao’s ribbon, kissed the corner of his eye, and drunkenly said he wanted to marry him before falling asleep in his arms.
• Lou Yunxiao held Ning Ke close and realized his feelings for his junior brother were more selfish and intense than his affection for the lady he admired.
• Ning Ke woke to sounds from the next room and asked Lou Yunxiao whether he had done anything embarrassing the night before.
• Xiao Yuan told Ning Ke that he had kissed Lou Yunxiao and asked whether Lou valued him or the lady more.
• Lou Yunxiao denied that Ning Ke had done anything bad, then asked him to tie his ribbon back on.

Ning Ke returned to the inn with Lou Yunxiao, where Zhuang Yusheng and a crowd of Music Sect disciples eagerly greeted him. Lou Yunxiao repeatedly kept Zhuang Yusheng at a distance, leaving Ning Xiaoxiao to wonder whether he had realized Ning Ke’s feelings and accepted them.

• Ning Ke tied Lou Yunxiao’s ribbon, and Lou Yunxiao drew him close before carefully straightening Ning Ke’s sash.
• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao returned to the inn, where Zhuang Yusheng and the Music Sect disciples rushed over to meet Ning Ke.
• Lou Yunxiao warned the disciples to show restraint and emphasized that he and Ning Ke had spent the previous night together.
• When Zhuang Yusheng took Ning Ke’s hand, Lou Yunxiao pulled it away and held it behind his back, claiming Ning Ke needed to guide him because he was blind.
• Lou Yunxiao arranged for Ning Xiaoxiao to sit beside Ning Ke, and Ning Xiaoxiao suspected that Lou Yunxiao had recognized and returned Ning Ke’s feelings.

Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao grew closer after Lou Yunxiao asked about love between men and accepted a book about intimacy, then gave Ning Ke a sachet. Two days later, the Sect Tournament began, with the disciples assembled by sect in the Arena.

• Hong Yao and Gao Ze discussed the weakening seal on the Great Demon and decided the disciples should still enter the Secret Realms to gain experience.
• Zhuang Yusheng told Lou Yunxiao they would compete fairly for Ning Ke, then accused him of being a coward for not admitting his feelings.
• Lou Yunxiao asked Ning Ke how men become cultivation partners, and Ning Ke explained love before handing him My Days and Nights with the Daoist Supreme.
• Lou Yunxiao kept the book and gave Ning Ke an ordinary sachet, which Ning Ke happily hung at his waist.
• The Sect Tournament began, and Ning Ke stood with the Sword Sect while the Buddhist Order's disciples glared at him for his remarks about their shaved heads.

At the tournament, Wugou told Ning Ke that he did not belong in this world, prompting Xiao Yuan to explain the world’s independent consciousness and Ning Ke’s role in helping it reach a stable conclusion. Ning Ke, Ning Xiaoxiao, and Lou Yunxiao advanced to the top ten, and Ning Ke faced Wugou in a match centered on formations.

• Wugou privately told Ning Ke that he was not of this world, and Xiao Yuan explained that Ning Ke’s missions helped the world form a complete whole around Lou Yunxiao.
• Ning Xiaoxiao defeated a body cultivator with sword techniques and talismans, then sought praise from Ning Ke.
• Lou Yunxiao won his match and repeatedly came to Ning Ke for a head pat and praise.
• Ning Ke observed Wugou trapping opponents with formations, and he and the others advanced to the tournament’s top ten.
• Ning Ke met Wugou in the ranking matches and proposed that they compare their formation skills.

Ning Ke defeated Wugou in the tournament, and Wugou sensed that Ning Ke was destined for a miserable death connected to Lou Yunxiao. Lou Yunxiao then defeated Zhuang Yusheng, who warned him that he was still a coward when it came to love.

• Ning Ke used formations and spiritual energy threads to defeat Wugou, then asked him to keep his unusual fate secret.
• Wugou sensed that Ning Ke came from another world and was destined to die miserably, with his death tied to Lou Yunxiao.
• Lou Yunxiao faced Zhuang Yusheng after Ning Ke and Ning Xiaoxiao cheered him on, and Zhuang Yusheng attacked with music formed into weapons.
• Lou Yunxiao revealed his sword intent and split the arena with a powerful strike, surprising the watching cultivators.
• Zhuang Yusheng used Blood Melody to overwhelm Lou Yunxiao with runes and visions, but Ning Ke's call restored Lou Yunxiao's awareness.
• Lou Yunxiao shattered Zhuang Yusheng's attack and held his sword to Zhuang Yusheng's throat; Zhuang Yusheng conceded and called him a coward in love.

After comforting both Zhuang Yusheng and Lou Yunxiao, Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao privately grappled with their desire to kiss each other. Ning Ke then faced Zhuang Yusheng in a talisman-drawing match and won, advancing the tournament as the rankings narrowed to the top three.

• Zhuang Yusheng sought Ning Ke's comfort after losing to Lou Yunxiao, and Ning Ke patted his head and gave him pills.
• Lou Yunxiao turned away from Ning Ke, but their faces met when he suddenly turned back; both felt an urge to kiss, then Ning Ke gave him pills for his wounds.
• Ning Xiaoxiao defeated Wugou to take fourth place, while Lou Yunxiao advanced to the top three with a bye.
• Ning Ke proposed a talisman-drawing contest against the tired Zhuang Yusheng, and they each drew a hundred talismans in midair.
• Ning Ke's combined talismans broke through Zhuang Yusheng's talisman chain, giving Ning Ke the victory.

Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao fought to a draw in the final match after their divine swords clashed and their battle destroyed the platform. Lou Yunxiao agreed to buy Ning Ke a new hairpin after his sword intent broke the one in Ning Ke’s hair.

• Ning Ke took second place and Zhuang Yusheng took third, leaving Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao to compete in the final match.
• Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao summoned their divine swords and fought fiercely, with Ning Ke using formations and talismans to disrupt Lou Yunxiao’s movements.
• Lou Yunxiao’s sword intent severed Ning Ke’s hairpin, and Ning Ke unleashed hidden formations and talismans that blasted the platform apart.
• After another hundred exchanges, Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao ended the match in a draw with their swords at each other’s throats.
• Ning Ke pointed out that Lou Yunxiao had broken his hairpin, and Lou Yunxiao promised to replace it when they went shopping.

Ning Ke found a pill in the Heavenly Profound Pavilion that could let Lou Yunxiao use his eyes, then entered the Qianyuan Secret Realm and was separated from him and Ning Xiaoxiao. As Ning Ke worried about dying and Lou Yunxiao growing close to Ning Xiaoxiao, Lou Yunxiao encountered her in the desert.

• Ning Ke chose an Osmanthus Jade Hairpin, and Lou Yunxiao pinned it in his hair before they went to the Heavenly Profound Pavilion.
• After Xiao Yuan told him about a pill on the fifth floor, Ning Ke found it and put it in his Storage Ring while telling Lou Yunxiao he might someday leave to return home.
• The top ten emerged from the pavilion, and the Qianyuan Secret Realm opened, teleporting its entrants to random locations.
• Alone in a forest, Ning Ke remembered that he was fated to die in six months and stored a wisp of his divine soul in the Red Cloud Sword so he could watch Lou Yunxiao.
• Lou Yunxiao wandered alone through a desert until Ning Xiaoxiao emerged from the sand with a sand rat and greeted him.

Ning Xiaoxiao and Lou Yunxiao learned that a powerful demon hunted in the desert and took shelter from the night with a Sand Rat. Meanwhile, Ning Ke discovered they were in the demon’s territory and learned it was likely a Great Demon sealed in the Secret Realm.

• Ning Xiaoxiao and Lou Yunxiao questioned the Sand Rat, who explained that the demon devoured creatures and cultivators, gaining their abilities and forms.
• When night fell, the Sand Rat warned them to light a fire and shelter behind a rock from the demon and possible dust storms.
• The Sand Rat sensed demonic beast aura in Lou Yunxiao’s flame, prompting Lou Yunxiao to wonder whether the older sister who gave it to him was a demon beast.
• Ning Xiaoxiao mistakenly concluded that her brother loved Lou Yunxiao but stayed silent because Lou Yunxiao already loved someone else.
• Ning Ke sent demonic beasts to search for Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao, and a sparrow reported that they were in the desert.
• A python told Ning Ke that a Great Demon sealed in the desert had partly escaped a hundred years earlier, leaving his friends in danger.

Ning Ke learned where the Great Demon was sealed and set out with Snakey to investigate the buried palace. Meanwhile, Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao found the palace and encountered the demon within, leaving Lou Yunxiao trapped and Ning Xiaoxiao buried in the sandstorm.

• Xiao Yuan gave Ning Ke a quest to investigate the stone monument sealing the Great Demon, and Snakey agreed to guide him to the buried palace.
• Lou Yunxiao used his ice powers to help Ning Xiaoxiao and the little sand rat cross the desert.
• Mutated Carnivorous Red Willows attacked Lou Yunxiao and Ning Xiaoxiao, who escaped underground during a sandstorm and destroyed the statues anchoring the willows.
• The palace doors opened, and its terrifying pressure wounded Lou Yunxiao and knocked Ning Xiaoxiao down.
• Lou Yunxiao sent Ning Xiaoxiao to the surface, then stayed behind to fight the dark figure as she was swept away and buried by the sandstorm.