Chapter Summaries

After Chen Shi'an's master died, Chen discovered he had inherited the temple's debts and could not legally take it over without recognized education credentials. The master had arranged for him to enroll in high school, leaving Chen with an admission notice and exam books instead of the diploma he hoped for.

• Chen Shi'an mourned his master while learning that the funeral guests were the creditors whose debts the old man had left him to repay.
• After the funeral, Chen noticed the creditors seemed genuinely saddened and wondered about their status and his master's connections.
• Yang Yao of the Cloud Roost City Taoist Association told Chen he needed proof of education to inherit Pure Dust Temple, and that the temple would be taken over if he could not provide it.
• Yang Yao revealed that Chen's master had arranged a place for him at Cloud Roost City No. 1 High School and handed him an admission notice.
• Yang Yao also gave Chen the exam-preparation books his master had borrowed, leaving Chen to prepare for school and the temple's debts.

After Chen Shi'an read his late master's ledger and final letter, he resolved to inherit the Pure Dust Temple, repay its debts, and go down the mountain to study. On August 31, he left the temple with Shi Mo in his luggage and set out toward a new life.

• Chen Shi'an discovered that his master's ledger recorded years of debts incurred for the temple and for him, including tuition and a school placement.
• Chen Shi'an read his master's final instructions to maintain the temple, see the wider world, study, and repay the debts, and he wept over the letter.
• Chen Shi'an decided to earn the qualification needed to inherit the Pure Dust Temple and calculated that the temple owed a little over 108,000 yuan.
• Chen Shi'an spent the remaining days repairing and tending the temple while preparing to leave for school.
• On August 31, Chen Shi'an said goodbye to his master and descended the mountain with Shi Mo hidden in his canvas bag.

Chen Shi'an left Pure Dust Temple for the city, where he planned to attend university before deciding what to do next. After descending the mountain and catching a ride into town, he reached the bus station to continue his journey.

• Chen Shi'an set out from the mountain, reflecting on his upbringing and planning to study in the city before returning to the mountain.
• Chen Shi'an chatted with his black cat, Shi Mo, as they passed familiar farmhouses and barking dogs on the way down.
• Chen Shi'an declined Auntie Li's offer of a ride into town and then accepted a lift from Uncle Wang.
• Chen Shi'an told Uncle Wang he would repay the medicinal herbs his master had bought on credit, but Uncle Wang refused payment.
• Uncle Wang dropped Chen Shi'an at the bus station and gave him a bottle of glucose solution for the journey.

Chen Shi'an traveled by bus toward Yunqi No. 1 High School, carrying Black Cat in his backpack, and struck up a conversation with a curious high-school girl. The girl complained about school and marveled at Chen Shi'an's stamina, while he recommended glucose water.

• Chen Shi'an drank glucose water and shared some with Black Cat while checking the route to Yunqi No. 1 High School.
• Chen Shi'an took the K301 bus to the county seat and transferred to Route 716, with Black Cat riding in his backpack.
• A high-school girl sat beside Chen Shi'an and asked whether he was a cosplayer before learning he was a Daoist.
• Chen Shi'an told the girl he could perform divinations, blessings, and funeral rites, and she asked whether such things were real.
• The girl complained about her heavy schoolwork and lack of vacation, then learned Chen Shi'an had risen at five and walked two hours through mountain paths.
• Chen Shi'an recommended glucose water when the girl marveled at his energy, and she smiled at the odd sight of a Daoist drinking it.

Chen Shi'an chatted with Wen Zhixia during a hot bus ride, answered passengers’ questions, and read Wen Zhixia’s face. After they parted at the final stop, he checked the route to Yunqi No. 1 High School and decided to walk there.

• Chen Shi'an chatted with Wen Zhixia, and his black cat Shi Mo emerged from his backpack and delighted her.
• As the bus grew hot because its rear air-conditioning was broken, Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia noticed they were not feeling the heat.
• Chen Shi'an told an older passenger that her husband’s symptoms were likely excess liver heat and her son’s fatigue sounded like excessive sexual indulgence.
• Chen Shi'an read Wen Zhixia’s face, predicted that she would be blessed and successful, and advised her to rest more and drink water.
• Wen Zhixia said goodbye and boarded another bus, while Chen Shi'an checked the route to Yunqi No. 1 High School and chose to walk.

Chen Shi'an explored the city on his way to Yunqi No. 1 High School, experiencing the mortal world for the first time. After Principal Lin called to check on him, Chen Shi'an arrived at the school and was escorted inside, leaving the curious crowd convinced the school had invited a Taoist.

• Chen Shi'an calmly observed the busy city and politely declined a flyer from a young woman.
• Principal Lin called Chen Shi'an, explained that his master had arranged his admission, and offered to help him at school.
• Chen Shi'an walked to Yunqi No. 1 High School and wondered whether the chatterbox girl from the bus attended there.
• Parents and students speculated about Chen Shi'an's Taoist robe as he approached the school gate.
• Chen Shi'an spoke with the gate guard, who respectfully escorted him toward the principal's office.

Chen Shi'an visited Yunqi No. 1 High School to arrange his schooling and met Principal Lin, one of his late master's creditors. He insisted on repaying the debt, then learned that his master had told Principal Lin he was the God of Literature descended to earth.

• Chen Shi'an arrived at Yunqi No. 1 High School in Daoist robes and drew curious attention from the students.
• Principal Lin welcomed Chen Shi'an and reminisced about his old relationship with Chen Shi'an's late master.
• Chen Shi'an promised to repay the thirty-eight thousand his master had borrowed from Principal Lin, but Principal Lin refused the repayment and offered him more money if needed.
• Chen Shi'an explained that he planned to visit the creditors listed in his master's ledger and settle the debts as he could.
• Principal Lin discussed the school's diploma requirements and revealed that Chen Shi'an's master had called him the God of Literature descended to earth.

Chen Shi'an accepted his master's plan to join Class Five, Year Two’s science track and won Principal Lin over with tea from Pure Dust Temple. As Teacher Liang hurried to meet the new student, classmates traded rumors about a Daoist arriving at school and a former student who had overcome depression while traveling.

• Principal Lin explained that Chen Shi'an would enter Class Five, Year Two, a top science-track class, and Chen Shi'an agreed to follow his master's arrangements.
• Chen Shi'an gave Principal Lin Profound Peak Snow Bud from Pure Dust Temple, and Principal Lin accepted it warmly.
• Principal Lin called Teacher Liang to meet Chen Shi'an, and Teacher Liang hurried to the principal's office.
• Zou Xiaokun told classmates that he had seen a Daoist being taken to Principal Lin's office and that Teacher Liang had been summoned.
• Zou Xiaokun shared the story of a former student who had taken time off to travel, recovered from depression, and become a popular influencer, unsettling his classmates.

Principal Lin introduced Chen Shi'an, a young Daoist who had never attended school, to Mr. Liang as his new student. Mr. Liang worried about Shi'an's missing academic foundations and decided to assess his level with a recent exam paper.

• Mr. Liang hurried to Principal Lin's office after hearing about a promising transfer student and met Chen Shi'an, who greeted him with a formal salute.
• Principal Lin introduced Chen Shi'an as a genuine Daoist and assigned him to Mr. Liang's class through the college entrance exam.
• Chen Shi'an told Mr. Liang he had never attended school apart from a few days of primary school, explaining that he was an orphan raised by his master in a remote mountain temple.
• Mr. Liang apologized after learning about Shi'an's circumstances, while Shi'an reassured him that he had never felt deprived.
• Mr. Liang set aside his hopes for a star student and offered Chen Shi'an a recent monthly exam paper to assess his academic level.

Chen Shi'an took a baseline exam at school and discovered that his knowledge of modern subjects was far behind his confidence, while classical Chinese remained familiar. The poor results humbled him and left him more determined to continue his worldly training.

• Chen Shi'an shared a boxed lunch with Fatty Mo before beginning the six-subject exam.
• Chen Shi'an answered the Chinese paper using classical learning, including a composition written in classical Chinese.
• Chen Shi'an found the mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, and biology questions unfamiliar and answered them poorly.
• Chen Shi'an realized his confidence had come from comparing himself only with his own experience and recognized the need to understand his place among others.
• Chen Shi'an calmed his turbulent Dao heart, accepted the lesson in humility, and resolved to continue his cultivation.

Principal Lin persuaded Teacher Liang to take Chen Shi'an into Class Five and tutor him despite his lack of academic foundations. After reviewing Shi'an's exam papers, Liang found his Chinese writing strong but his other subjects nearly nonexistent, leaving Shi'an determined to work hard.

• Principal Lin used rare tea and praise to persuade Teacher Liang to teach Chen Shi'an and arrange for him to sit beside Meng Qiu.
• Chen Shi'an brought in his completed assessment papers and admitted that he struggled with most subjects besides Chinese.
• Teacher Liang praised Shi'an's calligraphy and literary ability, while explaining that exams required simplified characters and standardized answers.
• Teacher Liang found Shi'an's foundations in the other subjects almost nonexistent, and Shi'an promised to work hard.

After enrolling at the school, Chen Shi'an arranged to commute and share Principal Lin’s nearby apartment with a young woman, while preparing to catch up on years of missed schooling. He headed to Class Five determined to overcome the academic gap.

• Principal Lin and Teacher Liang completed Chen Shi'an’s enrollment and explained the school schedule and rules.
• Chen Shi'an chose to commute because he had brought his cat, and Principal Lin arranged for him to share an apartment with a young woman who agreed to the arrangement.
• Principal Lin gave Chen Shi'an a staff meal card, and Teacher Liang took him to collect uniforms and textbooks, including first-year materials.
• Teacher Liang warned Chen Shi'an that he needed to quickly make up his missing academic foundations to keep pace with the class.
• Chen Shi'an told Teacher Liang he did not believe in fate and would work hard, then entered the Knowledge and Practice Building to join Class Five.

Chen Shi'an joined Class Five as a Taoist student preparing for the college entrance exam and met his quiet new deskmate, Lin Meng Qiu. He sat beside the class monitor as his classmates began betting on how long he would last there.

• Teacher Liang introduced Chen Shi'an as the new student, and Chen Shi'an told the class he had studied Taoist arts at Pure Dust Temple on Mysterious Peak Mountain.
• The students applauded Chen Shi'an's introduction and reacted with excitement to having a Taoist classmate.
• Teacher Liang placed Chen Shi'an's new desk beside Lin Meng Qiu, who had been quietly working by the window.
• Chen Shi'an apologized for disturbing Lin Meng Qiu and asked her name, and she eventually introduced herself.
• The class fell quiet and began betting on how long Chen Shi'an would last sitting beside Lin Meng Qiu.

Chen Shi'an settled into Class Five and became deskmates with Lin Meng Qiu, Principal Lin’s daughter, who offered to help him adjust to school. After buying dinner and retrieving the cat, he met Principal Lin, who was ready to take him to meet his future roommate.

• Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu about her role as class monitor, her father, and how school worked, while she offered to answer questions about class and studies.
• Lin Meng Qiu reminded Chen Shi'an that evening study began at six thirty, and he explained that Teacher Liang had excused him for the night.
• Chen Shi'an wandered around campus and went to the cafeteria, where he bought two takeout meals using Principal Lin’s meal card.
• Chen Shi'an went to retrieve the cat from Principal Lin’s office and prepared to visit the rental place with him.
• Principal Lin told Chen Shi'an that the young lady he would be sharing with had returned from work and offered to take him to meet her.

Chen Shi'an accompanied Principal Lin to view an apartment and heard Lin Ming's concerns about his daughter, Lin Meng Qiu. When they reached the rental, the tenant answered the door, and Chen Shi'an recognized her voice as belonging to someone he knew.

• Chen Shi'an shared his thoughts with Lin Ming that Lin Meng Qiu should be free to choose the life that made her comfortable.
• Lin Ming took Chen Shi'an to his old apartment, which he rented to him cheaply because it was close to school.
• Chen Shi'an and Lin Ming climbed to the ninth floor, where Lin Ming knocked on the door of apartment 901.
• A woman answered from inside, and Chen Shi'an recognized her voice.

Chen Shi'an moved into an old apartment shared with Li Wanyin, whom he had met earlier that day. After Principal Lin introduced them and left, Chen Shi'an started helping Li Wanyin clean their new home.

• Chen Shi'an recognized Li Wanyin as the woman who had handed out restaurant flyers that morning, and Principal Lin introduced them as roommates.
• Li Wanyin explained that she was doing part-time promotional work while seeking a job and was struggling to cover rent.
• Li Wanyin welcomed Chen Shi'an's Black Cat and showed him the clean room by the balcony, which he chose for himself.
• Principal Lin left Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin to settle in, and Chen Shi'an helped her clean the living room.

Chen Shi'an settled into the apartment and grew closer to his roommate, Li Wanyin, as they talked about their lives. When someone stole Li Wanyin’s takeout, Chen Shi'an shared an extra cafeteria meal with her, and they ended the evening eating together with a cat.

• Chen Shi'an unpacked his few belongings while Li Wanyin offered to lend him household supplies and they got to know each other.
• Chen Shi'an told Li Wanyin he was eighteen and had been raised by his Taoist master after being abandoned as a baby; he learned that she was twenty-two and had a younger sister named Wan Yue.
• Li Wanyin went downstairs to collect her takeout, but returned empty-handed after someone stole her meal.
• Chen Shi'an offered Li Wanyin an extra cafeteria boxed meal, and she accepted it after he explained that he had another one.
• Chen Shi'an hung his freshly rinsed uniforms on the balcony while Li Wanyin brought out cola, and the two roommates shared dinner with the cat.

Chen Shi'an explored city life by visiting a barbershop for his first professional hair wash and haircut. As his long hair was cut into a standard student style, he reflected that he had truly entered the wider world.

• Li Wanyin collected her bedsheet from the rooftop and returned to apartment 901 with Black Cat, who settled onto the sofa.
• Chen Shi'an went to a nearby barbershop to get his hair cut and agreed to have it washed while he waited.
• A shampoo assistant washed Chen Shi'an's hair, and he enjoyed the gentle massage while chatting with her.
• After waiting, Chen Shi'an asked the stylist for a standard student haircut that met the enrollment handbook's requirements.
• Chen Shi'an watched his long hair fall away and realized he had entered the wider world.

Chen Shi'an bought household and kitchen supplies for the apartment he shared with Li Wanyin, while considering his limited savings and future expenses. When he returned with a new haircut, Li Wanyin was startled by how different he looked.

• Chen Shi'an bought bedding, toiletries, kitchen supplies, fabric, and sewing materials at a general store.
• Chen Shi'an bought cat food for Fat Ink and half a watermelon to share with Li Wanyin.
• Chen Shi'an calculated that he had about twenty-four thousand yuan left and realized he would need to learn how to earn money for university and his debts.
• Chen Shi'an carried his purchases up to the ninth floor and returned to the apartment.
• Li Wanyin saw Chen Shi'an's short haircut and exclaimed that she almost had not recognized him.

After cutting his hair and settling into the shared home, Chen Shi'an grew closer to Li Wanyin as they shared food and childhood stories. He learned about her family responsibilities, while his first stirrings of attraction tested his Taoist resolve.

• Li Wanyin and Black Cat barely recognized Chen Shi'an after his haircut, and he moved his household supplies into his room.
• Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an bonded over childhood memories of tending fires and roasting sweet potatoes, and she learned that he had barely attended school before enrolling in high school.
• Chen Shi'an shared watermelon with Li Wanyin, who told him about her father's death, her mother's recovery, and her goal of saving money to support her mother and younger sister.
• Li Wanyin and Chen Shi'an exchanged WeChat details and connected his phone to the household Wi-Fi.
• As Li Wanyin leaned close to help with his phone, Chen Shi'an briefly imagined burying his face against her neck, then regained his composure and steadied his Taoist resolve.