Chapter Summaries

Xianyu tried to set ground rules with Aha so he could live an ordinary life, but learned that his past self had crossed paths with several Aeons. After Aha vanished, Fuli appeared in Xianyu’s home, leaving him facing yet another Aeon.

• Xianyu checked the Luofu Forum and found that nobody had noticed Aha’s arrival.
• Xianyu and Aha agreed to two rules each, while postponing their third conditions.
• Aha named Fuli, Qlipoth, Nanook, and the Hunt as Aeons connected to Xianyu, and claimed Xianyu had helped destroy part of Qlipoth’s wall.
• Aha announced they were leaving, and Xianyu threatened to throw them out with the trash; Aha vanished.
• Xianyu checked the system map, then discovered Fuli had appeared in his home.

Xianyu questioned Fuli about his past life and learned that he had fallen alongside Akivili, while Fuli warned him not to defy fate or interfere in others’ karma. After failing to search for information because Aha kept disrupting the results, Xianyu checked his messages and learned his supervisor had heard that the Sword Champion attacked him.

• Fuli appeared as an ice lotus and gave Xianyu two Light Cones as a gift for amusing Aha.
• Fuli told Xianyu that his memories mattered to the universe, that Aha had not lied, and that Xianyu had fallen alongside Akivili.
• Fuli said Xianyu was not wicked to humanity but was an enemy to evildoers, the Swarm, and Intellitrons, then recalled that Xianyu had once insulted them.
• Fuli warned Xianyu not to defy fate or interfere in the karma of others before disappearing.
• Xianyu tried searching for information about his past life, but Aha’s mask kept appearing in the results, so he gave up.
• Xianyu read his supervisor’s messages and learned that the supervisor had heard the Sword Champion attacked him.

Xianyu dismissed rumors that the Sword Champion had beaten him and went out to try a pepper soup milk tea Jing Yuan recommended. Meanwhile, Jing Yuan concluded that Jingliu liked Xianyu, and he and Dan Feng decided to play matchmakers.

• Xianyu reassured his superior that he could return to work and had not been beaten by the Sword Champion.
• Jing Yuan shared a shop selling pepper soup milk tea, and Xianyu left home to try it.
• Jing Yuan recalled the hot pot dinner and pieced together signs that Jingliu might like Xianyu.
• Dan Feng used Coiling Leap to whisk Jing Yuan, Yingxing, and Baiheng away, leaving Jingliu and Xianyu together.
• Jing Yuan agreed with Dan Feng that they should help ease Jingliu's worries about Xianyu.

After learning that Jingliu liked Xianyu, Yingxing, Dan Feng, and Jing Yuan tried to figure out how to help them get together. They ended the night with no workable plan, while Xianyu’s account of a three-hour sword practice with Jingliu only gave Dan Feng a new reason to seek him out.

• Dan Feng told Yingxing that Jingliu liked Xianyu, and Yingxing immediately worried about how much a wedding gift would cost.
• Yingxing, Dan Feng, and Jing Yuan took the drunken Baiheng to Jing Yuan’s residence and searched the forums for romance advice.
• Jing Yuan explained that Jingliu kept her distance from people because she feared they might become mara-struck, and he doubted she would make the first move toward Xianyu.
• Xianyu messaged Jing Yuan to praise Jingliu, who had practiced swordsmanship with him for three hours after getting drunk.
• Dan Feng asked Jing Yuan to arrange a sparring match with Xianyu, while Yingxing deleted his notes on a guide for women pursuing men.
• The three stayed up revising romance advice for Jingliu, but Jing Yuan judged their suggestions to be no help at all.

Jing Yuan learned that the Marshal had visited the Luofu and helped Jingliu find Xianyu’s address, while the Marshal and Teng Xiao discussed the fearsome former Marshal. The chapter ended with Teng Xiao recalling the former Marshal’s violent history and wondering why the Marshal had mentioned him.

• Jing Yuan, Dan Feng, and Yingxing decided Jing Yuan should forward their courtship guide to Jingliu, then Jing Yuan reminded her to arrive early for an important event.
• Jing Yuan learned that the Marshal had visited the Luofu and toured several commissions with Teng Xiao and their leaders.
• Jingliu asked Jing Yuan for Xianyu’s address, and Jing Yuan gave it to her before suggesting they try a new milk tea flavor to distract her.
• Jingliu realized Xianyu lived in the opposite direction from where she had claimed to be going, while Jing Yuan messaged Xianyu and fled.
• Teng Xiao welcomed the Marshal to a private tavern gathering, and they discussed the former Marshal’s brutal campaigns and legacy.

Teng Xiao learned that the Former Marshal had returned and was living as an ordinary person on the Luofu, while Hua reassured him that the man had passed the exam and joined the Divination Commission. Later, Xianyu visited a milk tea shop, where Jingliu joined him and began apologizing for the previous night before a nearby white-haired person interrupted with a cough.

• Teng Xiao asked the Marshal whether the Former Marshal had returned, and she told him to regard the man as an idle retiree.
• Teng Xiao worried the Former Marshal might attack the Luofu or resent it, but Hua said he had passed the exam, joined the Divination Commission, and wanted to live as an ordinary person.
• Hua remembered how the Former Marshal had chosen her as his successor and urged her to accept others' protection and live happily.
• Xianyu bought Peppery Soup milk tea, a regular milk tea, and fried dough sticks, intending to give one drink to Jing Yuan.
• Jingliu arrived at the shop and sat beside Xianyu after checking that he had no visible injuries.
• Jingliu began apologizing to Xianyu about the previous night, but the white-haired person beside them broke into loud coughs.

Xianyu and Jingliu tried Peppery Soup milk tea, then discovered Jing Yuan, Dan Feng, and Yingxing had secretly been watching them. Jingliu left with Xianyu, who was left wondering why she expected him to go back with her.

• Xianyu tried the Peppery Soup milk tea and found it was a spicy, salty drink with beef in it.
• Jingliu tasted the milk tea, choked on a Sichuan peppercorn, and accepted a sweet drink from Xianyu.
• Jingliu recognized Jing Yuan, Dan Feng, and Yingxing, who had been spying on her and Xianyu in disguise.
• Xianyu gave Jing Yuan a cup of the Peppery Soup milk tea, and Jingliu handed cups to Dan Feng and Yingxing.
• Jingliu took Xianyu's hand and led him outside, then told him they would head back together.

Jingliu walked Xianyu home after he admitted he had lied about living nearby because he wanted to escort her. As they discussed their friendship and the rumors about Jingliu attacking him, Jingliu realized the Diviner may have mistaken her visit for a revenge plot.

• Xianyu admitted to Jingliu that he had wanted to walk her home, and Jingliu insisted on returning the favor by escorting him.
• Jingliu praised Xianyu for being considerate and suggested they practice swordsmanship again, while Xianyu tried to avoid another spar.
• Xianyu asked whether Jingliu had a misunderstanding with the Diviner, and Jingliu recalled that the Diviner had refused to give her Xianyu's address.
• Xianyu told Jingliu that a rumor claimed she had beaten him and that the Lord Diviner had given him three days off because of it.
• Jingliu realized the Diviner might have withheld Xianyu's address because he thought she planned to seek revenge.

Xianyu rejected Jingliu’s suggestion that he join the Cloud Knights, explaining how much he valued his easy job at the Divination Commission. After they parted outside his home, Jingliu sent him money through his Jade Abacus.

• Xianyu suggested telling people that he and Jingliu were good friends and that the rumors about them were a misunderstanding, and Jingliu agreed.
• Jingliu urged Xianyu to join the Cloud Knights, but he explained that he preferred the Divination Commission and wanted to avoid overtime.
• Jingliu praised Xianyu’s abilities and work efficiency, while he thanked her and insisted he had no grand ambitions.
• Jingliu told Xianyu she would treat him next time, and they said goodbye outside his home.
• Xianyu watched Jingliu leave, then saw a Jade Abacus notification that she had transferred him money.

Xianyu accepted Jingliu’s generous payment for the Fleece Lamb Milk and planned to treat her and Baiheng to a meal. Meanwhile, Jing Yuan watched Jingliu spar with Dan Feng and learned that she had sent Xianyu Strale, though she had never given him money.

• Jingliu repeatedly sent Xianyu money for the Fleece Lamb Milk, and he finally accepted it after promising to treat her and Baiheng to a meal.
• Jingliu put away her Jade Abacus and challenged Dan Feng to spar, while Yingxing and Jing Yuan followed them to the Training Ground.
• Jingliu and Dan Feng began their familiar, evenly matched duel with a sword and spear as Yingxing and Jing Yuan watched.
• Yingxing urged Jing Yuan to check a message from Xianyu, who said Jingliu had sent him Strale.
• Jing Yuan asked Yingxing whether Jingliu had ever sent him money, and Yingxing concluded that she probably had not.

Jingliu asked for the romance guide Jing Yuan, Dan Feng, and Yingxing had written, then listened as they advised her to pursue Xianyu with money and Abominations of Abundance. The chapter ended with Jingliu telling them to let things take their course before expecting a wedding feast.

• Jingliu learned about the guide and asked Jing Yuan to send it to her.
• Dan Feng and Yingxing advised Jingliu to throw more Strale at Xianyu, while Jing Yuan warned that money would not win him over.
• Jing Yuan messaged Xianyu about receiving Strale and concluded that Jingliu was using money and meals to draw closer to him.
• Jingliu said she would mail Abominations of Abundance to Xianyu after her next campaign, and Dan Feng and Yingxing expanded their plans to hide Strale in severed Abomination limbs.
• Jingliu transferred Jing Yuan enough Strale for one bottle of Fleece Lamb Milk, then told her friends to let her relationship with Xianyu take its course.

Xianyu sought advice on a return gift for Jingliu, then used a forum recommendation to buy her a moon-shaped incense ornament. An anonymous group chat briefly reunited him with Aha before its administrator removed them both.

• Xianyu asked several classmates for gift ideas, but they mistook Jingliu for a romantic interest and suggested flowers, Abominations of Abundance, and a Stellar Destroyer.
• Xianyu contacted Hua, who hinted at their past-life connection, dismissed his gift question, and sent him a link to a women's forum.
• Xianyu searched the forum and bought Jingliu a moon-shaped incense ornament, arranging for it to be delivered to her home.
• An anonymous account added Xianyu to the group chat "One Big Cosmic Family," where Aha revealed himself and was immediately removed by the administrator, who removed Xianyu as well.

Xianyu was removed from an Aeon group chat by Erudition, then realized Erudition resented him for his past actions against Intellitron life-forms. At the Divination Commission, General Teng Xiao ordered psychological assessments, and Xianyu’s colleagues suspected the order was connected to a Cloud Knight stabbing him.

• Aha invited Xianyu to One Big Cosmic Family, where Erudition removed him before Aha restored his access as an administrator.
• Aha reminded Xianyu that he had scrapped many metal hunks, and Xianyu understood why Erudition viewed him as an enemy.
• Xianyu noticed Akivili at the top of the group’s member list and reflected on the Aeon of Trailblaze, who had fallen long ago.
• Diviner Xiao Lin ordered the Divination Commission to complete psychological assessments as part of a program directed by General Teng Xiao.
• Xianyu’s colleagues complained privately about the assessments, then speculated that General Teng Xiao had ordered them because a Cloud Knight had stabbed Xianyu.

Xianyu dispelled rumors that Jingliu had harmed him, then faced concern from Diviner Xiao Lin after his psychological test results raised alarms. As Xianyu left work, Jing Yuan pulled him into a restaurant, where a burly man appeared before they could talk.

• Xianyu reassured his colleagues that the rumor about injured Cloud Knights was false and completed the psychological tests.
• The next day, Xianyu showed his unharmed arms at work and was summoned by Diviner Xiao Lin over his troubling test results.
• Xiao Lin asked whether Xianyu was all right and how things stood with Jingliu, and Xianyu insisted they were friends.
• Xianyu urged Xiao Lin to stop the Divination Commission from spreading rumors, then returned to work and left at closing time.
• Jing Yuan spotted Xianyu outside the commission, dragged him to a restaurant, and was interrupted by a burly man who signaled him to stay quiet.

Xianyu met General Teng Xiao while eating with Jing Yuan and discussed the Divination Commission’s psychological test and his work. Teng Xiao paid for the meal and promised to get something sorted out for Xianyu, leaving Xianyu confused about what he meant.

• Xianyu recognized the imposing Cloud Knight as likely a senior officer and learned he wanted to ask about the Divination Commission’s test.
• Xianyu told Teng Xiao and Jing Yuan that the four-part test had over six hundred questions and had diagnosed him with a personality disorder.
• Jing Yuan tried to deflect blame from Xianyu by suggesting the Alchemy Commission’s test might become more accurate next time.
• Teng Xiao questioned Xianyu about his work and career plans, and Xianyu said he valued good pay, little work, and a short commute.
• Teng Xiao paid for Xianyu’s and Jing Yuan’s meals, said he and Xianyu had hit it off, and promised to get everything sorted out for him.

After Teng Xiao left, Jing Yuan suspected Xianyu had deliberately said something alarming during his assessment and teased him in public with Dragon King storybook tropes. Their joking gave way to a serious confrontation when Jing Yuan asked whether Xianyu was about to commit a crime.

• Teng Xiao abruptly departed, and Jing Yuan questioned Xianyu about what he had said in front of him.
• Jing Yuan called Xianyu a Dragon King living as a live-in son-in-law, then loudly staged a scene about the Dragon King's return and inheritance in the restaurant.
• Xianyu punched Jing Yuan and fled the restaurant, while Jing Yuan chased after him and continued the public performance.
• Xianyu confronted Jing Yuan in a secluded alley, and Jing Yuan admitted he had pulled similar pranks on Dan Feng and Yingxing.
• Jing Yuan dropped his playful manner and asked Xianyu whether he was about to commit a crime.

Xianyu told Jing Yuan he would not betray the Reignbow Arbiter and explained that he wanted a transfer to the Divination Commission archives to research his past life. Meanwhile, General Teng Xiao investigated Xianyu’s history and was stunned to find that the feared Former Marshal had lived an unusually ordinary life on the Luofu.

• Jing Yuan asked Xianyu whether he planned to betray the Reignbow Arbiter, and Xianyu firmly said he would not.
• Xianyu told Jing Yuan he planned to request a transfer to the archives so he could investigate his previous life.
• Jing Yuan warned Xianyu not to break the law, then worried about how to improve his reputation with General Teng Xiao.
• Teng Xiao searched the Divination Commission’s records and identified Xianyu as the Former Marshal.
• Teng Xiao discovered that Xianyu had forgiven the classmates who bullied him and that they had all remained unharmed, leaving Teng Xiao wondering whether Xianyu had changed.

Teng Xiao arranged a psychological test for Xianyu, then sought advice from the Marshal’s Chief Strategist after the results suggested Xianyu wanted a transfer to the Library. He learned more about Xianyu’s ruthless past and, fearing that Xianyu knew his identity, contacted Dan Feng for help.

• Teng Xiao ordered the Alchemy Commission to create a psychological test and planned to trial it with the Divination Commission.
• Teng Xiao learned that Xianyu’s test results were alarming and concluded that Xianyu wanted to become the Library’s Librarian.
• Teng Xiao received an automated out-of-office reply from Hua and asked the Chief Strategist for advice.
• The Chief Strategist told Teng Xiao to grant Xianyu reasonable requests and warned him about Xianyu’s brutal treatment of the Swarm.
• Teng Xiao admitted to the Chief Strategist that he had disguised himself as a Cloud Knight to approach Xianyu, then messaged Dan Feng for help.

Teng Xiao worried that Xianyu might uncover the Former Marshal’s sealed records, so he enlisted Xiao Lin to rewrite them in a favorable light. Xianyu later asked Hua whether he could repay Teng Xiao with money, and Hua warned him to stay away from the general.

• Teng Xiao suspected Xianyu had not recovered all his memories and summoned Xiao Lin to help present the Former Marshal’s sealed records positively.
• Teng Xiao and Xiao Lin worked through the night, with Teng Xiao inventing favorable explanations for the Former Marshal’s actions.
• Xiao Lin arrived at the Divination Commission exhausted and realized Teng Xiao had tricked him into overtime.
• Xianyu saw Xiao Lin carrying psychology books and mistakenly thought his boss was trying to help him.
• Xianyu messaged Hua to ask whether he owed Teng Xiao a favor and whether an eight-figure payment in Strales could settle it.
• Hua replied, “Don’t,” and told Xianyu to stay away from Teng Xiao.

Xianyu wondered whether Hua was the Marshal and tried to get answers, but Hua teased him and disappeared again. He submitted a transfer request to the archives, and the chapter ended when Jingliu asked whether he had sent her an unexpected package.

• Xianyu speculated that Hua might be the Marshal and asked whether he had once been a general, but Hua replied, "Take a guess."
• Unable to get more answers from Hua, Xianyu drafted a transfer application to the archives.
• Xianyu asked Diviner Xiao Lin to transfer him, and Xiao Lin approved the move for the following Monday.
• Xianyu collected his lunch and saw messages from Jingliu asking whether he had sent her a package she had received.