Chapter Summaries

Shen Fei met Xiao Ning'er at night, and the two walked toward the main street while he wondered why she seemed embarrassed. As they continued, Shen Fei told her that someone had been watching their family's merchant caravan.

• Shen Fei entered the Winged Dragon Family's side courtyard and found Xiao Ning'er hiding a rolled-up paper behind her back.
• Xiao Ning'er blushed, said nothing was wrong, and quickly led Shen Fei out of the courtyard.
• Shen Fei followed Xiao Ning'er through the alley and onto the nearly empty main street without pressing her about her behavior.
• Shen Fei told Xiao Ning'er that someone had been watching their family's merchant caravan for the past two days.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er discussed unfamiliar watchers near their families’ trade routes and suspected that a faction mentioned by Nie Li was gathering information about Glory City. At the City Lord’s Mansion, they trained with weapons until exhaustion, while Shen Fei felt the Body Tempering Pill strengthening his body and Xiao Ning'er practiced techniques from her Spear Manual.

• Xiao Ning'er told Shen Fei that unfamiliar groups had watched her family’s caravans from a distance without approaching them.
• Shen Fei linked the watchers to the other faction Nie Li had mentioned and agreed with Xiao Ning'er that they should be careful.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er entered the City Lord’s Mansion’s back courtyard and took a practice sword and spear from the Martial Arts Arena.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er sparred for nearly two hours without spiritual power or Demon Spirits, and Shen Fei felt the Body Tempering Pill’s effects in his muscles.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er continued fighting as they grew increasingly exhausted, with Xiao Ning'er applying movements from the Spear Manual Mingyu had given her.

After an exhausting spar, Xiao Ning'er and Shen Fei collapsed, and Shen Fei carried her to a bench. Xiao Ning'er’s memories of fearing he would not return from the Black Prison showed how deeply she cared for him, while Shen Fei resisted the intimacy of their close encounter.

• Xiao Ning'er fell from exhaustion, and Shen Fei dropped his sword and went to help her.
• Shen Fei tried to lift Xiao Ning'er, but her legs gave out and she fell back as he leaned over her.
• Xiao Ning'er remembered Aunt Wang advising her to show weakness and recalled anxiously waiting for Shen Fei to return from the Black Prison.
• Xiao Ning'er relaxed in Shen Fei's arms, and he suppressed his impulse and carried her to a bench.
• Shen Fei laid Xiao Ning'er on the cold bench, and they quietly looked at each other.

After kissing, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er took Body Tempering Pills and recovered from their sparring before going to the City Lord's Mansion to warn Nie Li that their caravans were being watched. They arrived to find Nie Li chatting intimately with Ye Ziyun, who grew embarrassed when she saw them.

• Shen Fei kissed Xiao Ning'er, then told her to circulate her energy and consolidate her gains.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er took Body Tempering Pills and meditated side by side to recover from training.
• After bathing, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er headed to the City Lord's Mansion to tell Nie Li that their caravans were being watched.
• At Nie Li's courtyard, Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er heard Ye Ziyun laughing with Nie Li before entering.
• Ye Ziyun stopped smiling and moved away from Nie Li when she saw Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er.

Nie Li warned Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er that the New Faction had begun surveilling their families’ caravans and planned to suspend outside activity while Glory City strengthened its defenses. After they left, Ye Ziyun reflected on Xiao Ning’er’s past and felt she had found a better life beside Shen Fei.

• Shen Fei told Nie Li that unknown, powerful observers had been tracking both families’ caravans, and Nie Li suspected they belonged to the New Faction.
• Nie Li planned to halt long-distance caravan trips, reinforce the freight depot, and rely on Yu Yan and Mingyu’s strength while everyone worked to improve their cultivation.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left Nie Li’s courtyard, and Ye Ziyun watched Xiao Ning'er go.
• Ye Ziyun remembered how Xiao Ning'er had lost confidence after her betrothal and concluded that she now had her own path and had chosen Shen Fei for herself.
• Nie Li asked Ye Ziyun what she was thinking, but she shook her head and said nothing.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er walked home together through the quiet city, holding hands for the first time. At the entrance to the Winged Dragon Family's side courtyard, Xiao Ning'er embraced him, and Shen Fei realized he was experiencing love for the first time.

• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er left the City Lord's Mansion and walked silently through the moonlit streets.
• Shen Fei reached for Xiao Ning'er, and she threaded her fingers through his as they continued toward the Winged Dragon Family.
• Xiao Ning'er stopped at the side courtyard entrance, released Shen Fei's hand, and embraced him.
• Shen Fei held Xiao Ning'er and reflected that, despite having lived three lives, this seemed to be his first time falling in love.

Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er shared a tender farewell before the approaching battle, and Xiao Ning'er returned to her courtyard. Aunt Wang teased her about their embrace, leaving Xiao Ning'er blushing as she savored the memory and ate the osmanthus cake.

• Xiao Ning'er clung to Shen Fei at the courtyard gate, and he kissed her forehead and offered to stay with her.
• Xiao Ning'er said Shen Fei had important things to do, then went inside after he reminded her to prepare for the coming battle.
• Alone in her room, Xiao Ning'er touched her forehead and tried to calm herself with cool water.
• Aunt Wang brought Xiao Ning'er pastries and teased her for embracing Shen Fei outside the gate.
• After Aunt Wang left, Xiao Ning'er recalled the moment with Shen Fei, smiled, and ate the osmanthus cake.

Shen Fei received Nie Li’s invitation to the City Lord’s Mansion and brought Xiao Ning'er with him. They arrived at Nie Li’s courtyard, where several others had gathered.

• Shen Fei told the old steward to stop all Sacred Family merchant caravans from leaving Glory City until he returned.
• Shen Fei went to the Winged Dragon Family residence, where Xiao Ning'er was ready to accompany him.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er traveled to the City Lord’s Mansion and entered through its side gate.
• Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er arrived at Nie Li’s courtyard and found Lu Piao, Du Ze, Xiao Xue, Duan Jian, and Ye Ziyun gathered there.
• Nie Li greeted Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er and invited them to sit.

Nie Li revealed a formation that converted Demon Spirits into soul force and activated it in the courtyard. He invited Shen Fei and the others to stand within the array and absorb the soul force as it spread.

• Shen Fei examined the dark-gold formation and asked Nie Li what it did.
• A guard delivered a box containing ten Space Rings, and Nie Li placed the rings into slots around the stone pillar.
• Nie Li activated the array and explained that it contained a hundred thousand Demon Spirits, which the formation would convert into soul force with few side effects.
• Shen Fei asked when they would begin, and Nie Li answered that they would start immediately.
• Nie Li told everyone to stand on the array's patterns, circulate their cultivation arts, and absorb the soul force into their dantians.