Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin set up WeChat, became friends, and agreed to split their shared household expenses. After seeing Li Wanyin’s difficult job search, Chen Shi'an went to bed feeling that his first journey away from home was going smoothly.

• Li Wanyin helped Chen Shi'an create a WeChat account, and he chose a sunrise photo for his profile picture.
• Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin added each other as their first and only WeChat contacts, then explored the app and joked about being single.
• Chen Shi'an proposed sending Li Wanyin his share of the rent and splitting their utility bills evenly, and she agreed.
• Li Wanyin told Chen Shi'an that her job search was going poorly, and he encouraged her to keep trying.
• Chen Shi'an went to bed with Black Cat beside him and reflected on his first journey away from home.

Chen Shi'an adjusted to city life by making breakfast, studying his high school textbooks, and using his Taoist abilities to dry his uniform. He left for school as the sun rose, while Black Cat stayed behind.

• Chen Shi'an woke before dawn in Li Wanyin's apartment and struggled with the unfamiliar city sounds and soft bed.
• Chen Shi'an cooked egg noodles, experimented with lighting the gas stove using spiritual fire, and persuaded Black Cat to try cat food.
• Chen Shi'an studied his high school textbooks, quickly memorizing Chinese but finding math and science difficult without middle-school foundations.
• Chen Shi'an dried his damp school uniform with a Taoist technique, changed, and told Black Cat to watch the apartment before leaving for school.

Chen Shi'an walked to school in his new uniform, where he reunited with Wen Zhixia and agreed to become her study and walking buddy. After arriving at Class Five, his classmates failed to recognize him after his haircut and change of clothes.

• Chen Shi'an left home in his school uniform and noticed that fewer people stared at him than when he wore his Taoist robe.
• Wen Zhixia recognized Chen Shi'an at a traffic light and questioned him about his haircut, uniform, and place in Class Five.
• Chen Shi'an asked Wen Zhixia to help him with his studies, and they agreed to become study buddies and walk home together.
• Wen Zhixia introduced herself by name, gave Chen Shi'an a cup of soy milk, and explained that she lived nearby with her aunt.
• Chen Shi'an entered Class Five, where his classmates stared in confusion because they did not recognize him.

Chen Shi'an adapted to his first full day at Yunqi No. 1 High School, surprising Class Five with his new appearance and his unusual approach to studying. Lin Meng Qiu offered him exam memorization materials, but he returned them and chose to memorize the complete Chinese texts instead.

• Chen Shi'an arrived in Class Five wearing a school uniform, and his classmates recognized him as the Daoist Master from the day before.
• Chen Shi'an greeted Lin Meng Qiu, then reviewed the packed school timetable and prepared for morning reading.
• Lin Meng Qiu learned that Chen Shi'an had never attended school and wondered whether he could keep up with high school.
• Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu which Chinese passages needed memorizing, and she lent him her marked exam materials.
• Chen Shi'an returned the materials and said he would memorize the full texts from the textbook, leaving Lin Meng Qiu puzzled by his choice.

Teacher Liang brought Chen Shi'an study materials and borrowed textbooks so he could rebuild his academic foundations, while Lin Meng Qiu learned he was aiming for the top science-stream ranking. Chen Shi'an bonded with his classmates over his Daoist background, and Lin Meng Qiu kept deducting points from him in her thoughts.

• Teacher Liang gave Chen Shi'an Chinese memorization materials and borrowed middle school and elementary school textbooks for him to study.
• Lin Meng Qiu told Chen Shi'an that first place required a score of over 700, and privately deducted points for his apparent confidence.
• After morning reading, Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu where the class assembled for morning exercises and went out to join his classmates.
• The boys questioned Chen Shi'an about his Daoist past and learned that he had never attended school before.
• Lin Meng Qiu came out of the classroom, saw Chen Shi'an chatting with the boys, and deducted another point from him in her thoughts.

Chen Shi'an attended morning exercises for the first time, then discovered the academic standings of his classmates on the Honor Roll. He learned that Lin Meng Qiu ranked first in science and Wen Zhixia ranked first in humanities, leaving him determined to aim higher in his studies.

• Chen Shi'an joined Class Five for morning exercises and watched Lin Meng Qiu and Wen Zhixia among the assembled students.
• Chen Shi'an told Zou Xiaokun about Taoist breathing practices, and his classmates asked to become his disciples.
• Chen Shi'an followed the Broadcast Exercises before Principal Lin gave a brief first-day speech.
• Chen Shi'an stopped at the noticeboard and saw that Lin Meng Qiu had ranked first in science with 706 points.
• Chen Shi'an checked the humanities Honor Roll and discovered that Wen Zhixia had ranked first with 689 points.

Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu to teach him math after impressing her with his mental arithmetic and solving an equation through cumbersome calculations. Lin Meng Qiu agreed, then secretly checked one of his answers during class and angrily hid her work when he noticed.

• Chen Shi'an praised Lin Meng Qiu's focused problem-solving and asked her to teach him math.
• Lin Meng Qiu tested Chen Shi'an with arithmetic questions, and he answered them quickly and accurately.
• Chen Shi'an solved an equation using a long method, and Lin Meng Qiu explained a more efficient approach.
• Lin Meng Qiu agreed to teach Chen Shi'an, despite regretting that she had invited the trouble.
• During class, Chen Shi'an glanced at Lin Meng Qiu's scratch paper, and she covered it after he caught her checking his multiplication answer.

During his first double math lesson, Chen Shi'an discovered that he could not follow high-school mathematics and began teaching himself from a seventh-grade textbook, finding unexpected wonder in the subject. The chapter ended with Teacher Zhang learning that Chen Shi'an had never attended school and realizing Teacher Liang had concealed how weak his foundations were.

• Teacher Zhang welcomed Chen Shi'an to class and began reviewing the monthly math exam, while Chen Shi'an realized he could not understand the questions or the lesson.
• Lin Meng Qiu advised Chen Shi'an to study middle-school basics, so he put away the exam and started working through a seventh-grade math textbook.
• Chen Shi'an became absorbed in self-study, grasped new mathematical concepts, and worked through more than twenty pages without noticing the lesson had ended.
• Lin Meng Qiu poked Chen Shi'an to get his attention after Teacher Zhang called him several times, and Chen Shi'an apologized for not hearing.
• Teacher Zhang inspected Chen Shi'an's blank exam paper and learned that he had never attended school, then took the paper with him to confront Teacher Liang.

Chen Shi'an studied seventh-grade math on his own and asked Lin Meng Qiu for practice problems and old workbooks. Lin Meng Qiu agreed to bring her workbooks another day, and Chen Shi'an watched her go to refill her cup.

• Mr. Zhang returned Chen Shi'an's test and told him to study on his own and bring questions to him later.
• Chen Shi'an finished two math textbook chapters during independent study, and Lin Meng Qiu noticed his intense concentration.
• Lin Meng Qiu gave Chen Shi'an practice problems and explained that exams required him to show his solution steps.
• Chen Shi'an asked to borrow Lin Meng Qiu's old middle-school workbooks because he had no money to buy new ones, and she agreed to bring them another day.
• Lin Meng Qiu thanked Chen Shi'an as she passed him to refill her cup, and he watched her walk to the water dispenser.

English teacher Ye Mingmei learned that Chen Shi'an knew almost no English and gave him a reading pen to help him study independently. Chen Shi'an accepted it and felt confident he could quickly master English vocabulary.

• The teachers discussed Chen Shi'an's poor performance in most subjects, and Principal Lin agreed with Teacher Liang that he could still improve.
• Ye Mingmei asked Chen Shi'an why he had left the English multiple-choice questions blank, and he explained that he had not understood them and feared guessing correctly would mislead them.
• Ye Mingmei spoke with Chen Shi'an in the corridor and learned about his upbringing, education, and limited English knowledge.
• Ye Mingmei demonstrated how a reading pen could translate and pronounce unfamiliar English, then lent it to Chen Shi'an.
• Ye Mingmei advised Chen Shi'an to memorize ten words each day and offered to help with grammar and pronunciation, while he thanked her and resolved to study.

During English class, Chen Shi'an studied a seventh-grade textbook while Lin Meng Qiu watched him and wondered how he could hope to beat her. At lunch, they discussed their meal arrangements and Lin Meng Qiu's father's kindness to Chen Shi'an; as Chen Shi'an headed to the cafeteria, Little Cicada tapped his shoulder.

• Chen Shi'an used a reading pen to study his seventh-grade English textbook, and Lin Meng Qiu repeatedly glanced at him before returning to her own work.
• After English class, Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu packed up for lunch, and he said Lin Ming had given him a staff meal card.
• Lin Meng Qiu asked whether Chen Shi'an knew what had happened between his master and Lin Ming, but Chen Shi'an said he did not know and asked her to tell him if she found out.
• Lin Meng Qiu said she would take her lunch back to her room, while Chen Shi'an left his backpack in the classroom and headed to the cafeteria.
• As Chen Shi'an crossed the crowded school grounds, Little Cicada tapped him on the shoulder, and he greeted her with a smile.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia shared lunch and grew more comfortable with each other as they talked in line. They agreed to become regular meal buddies, with Wen Zhixia promising to wait if he ate more slowly than she did.

• Chen Shi'an walked quickly beside Wen Zhixia on their way to the cafeteria, astonishing her with his unusual stride.
• Wen Zhixia explained the differences between the school cafeterias, and she and Chen Shi'an chose to eat rice together at Cafeteria Two.
• Chen Shi'an used his intent to create a cooling breeze around Wen Zhixia while they waited in line.
• Wen Zhixia explained that she ate alone because she was slower than her dorm-resident friends and did not want to inconvenience them.
• Chen Shi'an suggested that he and Wen Zhixia become meal buddies, and she agreed to wait for him if he ate more slowly.

Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an shared lunch, and he taught her simple health exercises while she offered to help him practice English. They agreed to meet for meals and walks, sealing their plans with a pinky promise that left Wen Zhixia flustered.

• Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an chose dishes at the cafeteria and shared tastes of each other's food.
• Chen Shi'an showed Wen Zhixia several health exercises to help with her sleep and fitness.
• Wen Zhixia offered to help Chen Shi'an practice English, and he revealed that she had ranked first in the humanities track with the grade's highest English score.
• Wen Zhixia and Chen Shi'an added each other on WeChat and agreed where to wait for meals and walks to school.
• Wen Zhixia asked Chen Shi'an to make a pinky promise, and their linked fingers made her blush.

Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia shared lunch, discussed studying and school life, then visited the campus shop together. They ended their break sharing lollipops as buddies before returning to class.

• Wen Zhixia shared English memorization tips with Chen Shi'an, and he agreed to try them.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia discussed day students, competitive studying, and how Chen Shi'an already had a Taoist career.
• Wen Zhixia bought pen refills at the campus shop while Chen Shi'an looked around and bought lollipops.
• Chen Shi'an offered Wen Zhixia lollipops as a buddy fee, and she accepted despite trying to lose weight.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia ate their strawberry and apple lollipops together and smiled at each other.

During lunch break, Chen Shi'an meditated in his classroom and used his cultivation to extend his awareness beyond the school. He recognized Fat Ink outside a fast-food shop and discovered that the cat had been wandering around to beg for food.

• Chen Shi'an returned to Class Five and found seven classmates studying during lunch break.
• Chen Shi'an meditated at his desk and reflected on the stages of cultivation and his search for the Dao.
• Chen Shi'an's meditation calmed the classroom and made the studying students feel cool and clear-headed.
• Chen Shi'an extended his awareness beyond the campus and heard Fat Ink begging for food outside a fast-food shop.
• Fat Ink sensed Chen Shi'an's attention, grabbed the chicken, and ran away.

Chen Shi'an demonstrated his strength at the classroom water dispenser and spoke with Dong Wenyu about meditation and exercise. Lin Meng Qiu brought him the seventh-grade math materials she had promised, and his gratitude eased her irritation as she left more books for him to study.

• Chen Shi'an effortlessly replaced the water dispenser jug, then caught Dong Wenyu when the skinny student nearly toppled while trying to lift another one.
• Chen Shi'an advised Dong Wenyu to exercise and explained that seated meditation helped him recover his energy.
• Lin Meng Qiu returned to class carrying a heavy backpack after going home during lunch to collect the study materials she had promised Chen Shi'an.
• Lin Meng Qiu placed nearly ten seventh-grade math workbooks and a bundle of test papers between their desks, telling Chen Shi'an to work through them before they discussed later materials.
• Chen Shi'an thanked Lin Meng Qiu warmly, and her embarrassment and irritation faded as she watched him examine the books with care.

Chen Shi'an adjusted to school life, revised his Chinese exam paper, and began catching up in math during science lessons. Lin Meng Qiu erased a tiny crying-bunny drawing from an old workbook after Chen Shi'an noticed it, leaving him curious about her past.

• Chen Shi'an listened to Teacher Liang's Chinese lesson and revised his exam answers into the expected format.
• Qiu Yufu added Chen Shi'an and Lin Meng Qiu to the next day's classroom-duty schedule, and Lin Meng Qiu told him where to take the trash.
• Chen Shi'an decided to focus on Chinese, math, and English, then studied seventh-grade math during physics and chemistry lessons.
• Chen Shi'an asked Lin Meng Qiu about her seventh-grade grades, and she said she had ranked in the class's top ten.
• Chen Shi'an spotted a tiny crying-bunny drawing in Lin Meng Qiu's old workbook, and she denied drawing it before erasing it.

Lin Meng Qiu hid her vulnerability after Chen Shi'an noticed her crying-bunny sketch, while Chen Shi'an focused on catching up with his studies. After joining his classmates for basketball, he revealed extraordinary strength by shattering the backboard with a standing dunk.

• Lin Meng Qiu scribbled over a bunny doodle, and Chen Shi'an quietly used his clarity technique to ease her irritation.
• Chen Shi'an reviewed his study progress and headed downstairs to meet Wen Zhixia before dinner.
• Xu Zihan invited Chen Shi'an to play basketball, where Chen Shi'an made two effortless long-range shots.
• Chen Shi'an performed a standing dunk that shattered the backboard, leaving Xu Zihan and the others stunned.

On his first day at school, Chen Shi'an drew attention after accidentally smashing a basketball backboard, then settled into evening study beside Lin Meng Qiu. The chapter ended with him leaving her two lollipops as a “deskmate fee.”

• Students buzzed about the broken backboard, and Lin Meng Qiu asked Chen Shi'an whether he had shattered it and if he had to pay for the damage.
• Chen Shi'an squashed a mosquito on Lin Meng Qiu's arm, and she thanked him before spraying herself with repellent.
• Lin Meng Qiu noticed Chen Shi'an working through her math workbook and explained three ways to solve a problem he was considering.
• Chen Shi'an secretly wrote down a fourth solution after Lin Meng Qiu returned to studying.
• At the end of evening study, Chen Shi'an left Lin Meng Qiu two lollipops as his deskmate fee and went home.

Chen Shi'an waited for Wen Zhixia after school, and they walked home together while she asked about his strength and Taoist training. They shared grilled sausages before Wen Zhixia went home, and they agreed to meet at the intersection the next morning.

• Wen Zhixia found Chen Shi'an waiting and learned he had shattered the basketball backboard with a dunk.
• Chen Shi'an and Wen Zhixia walked out of school together, talking about his studies in Taoism and the arts.
• Wen Zhixia joked about becoming a nun and felt reassured walking at night beside Chen Shi'an.
• Wen Zhixia bought two grilled sausages and shared one with Chen Shi'an, who offered to make her herbal tea.
• Wen Zhixia reached her residential complex and arranged to meet Chen Shi'an at the intersection at six fifteen the next morning.