Chapter Summaries

Missing Moon Manor debated Chen Yishan’s defection while Zhao Ling received Qilin blood in the palace. The gift gave her a strange new vision, and she abruptly swapped places with Nangong Ye, leaving Linde Hall in chaos.

• Lin Zisu called the Gu Poison Sect’s political maneuvering fence-sitting, while Bu Yuehua ordered the Manor to investigate Chen Yishan’s confidence and report clues to the Manor Lord.
• Zhao Ling and Linghu Qingmo learned that Xie Jinhuan had returned safely from Dragonbone Shoal with two opportunities, while Zhao De mourned a lost bet on four.
• Zhao Xiao arranged for Zhao Ling to receive Qilin blood, which the elders had originally reserved as protection for the future ruler.
• After the Qilin blood transformed Zhao Ling’s senses, she saw a red mark and was pulled into a vision aboard a boat tower.
• Nangong Ye suddenly appeared in Zhao Ling’s place in Linde Hall, realized he had switched accounts, and collapsed as everyone panicked.

Zhao Ling’s sudden arrival interrupted Xie Jinhuan and Bu Yuehua while she was inhabiting Nangong Ye’s body, and she was swept into an intimate encounter before she could understand what was happening. Afterward, Xie Jinhuan told her he had secured her Jianbing Divine Gift opportunity, and Zhao Ling learned that Nangong Ye had gone to Linde Hall in her place as the chapter left her unable to contact Nangong Ye.

• After receiving qilin blood and a surge in Daoist cultivation at Linde Hall, Zhao Ling followed Nangong Ye’s mark and suddenly arrived in her body on top of Lin Wanyi, with Xie Jinhuan behind her.
• Lin Wanyi summoned Bu Yuehua back from a meeting, and Bu Yuehua initially continued before recognizing that Zhao Ling had taken Nangong Ye’s place.
• Xie Jinhuan and Zhao Ling eventually stopped, and Bu Yuehua left the room while Zhao Ling dressed in Nangong Ye’s clothes and confronted Xie Jinhuan.
• Xie Jinhuan told Zhao Ling that he and the others had seized a Jianbing Divine Gift and repaid her debt to Qixia True Person, leaving the opportunity hers alone.
• Zhao Ling agreed to keep the incident secret and help persuade Qingmo, then told Xie Jinhuan about her new soul-sensing ability and learned Nangong Ye had gone to Linde Hall in her body.
• Zhao Ling tried to sense Nangong Ye through the mark but received no response, while Nangong Ye faced Zhao Ling’s father, Zen Master Wuxin, Daoist Li Chimo, and Qingmo at Linde Hall.

Nangong Ye returned to Linde Hall and tried to confess to Linghu Qingmo that she had fallen for Xie Jinhuan, while concealing the shameful details of what had happened between them. Qingmo accepted her feelings and promised not to blame her, leaving Nangong Ye trapped in painful clarity by Lin Zisu’s Death-Seeking Pill.

• Lin Zisu examined the unconscious Nangong Ye and gave her a Death-Seeking Pill when she kept fainting.
• Nangong Ye told Linghu Qingmo that her Dao was impure and that she had developed feelings for Xie Jinhuan.
• Linghu Qingmo guessed that Nangong Ye loved Xie Jinhuan and asked whether she had approached him, while Nangong Ye avoided revealing what she had done.
• Linghu Qingmo offered to withdraw and cultivate in seclusion, but Nangong Ye refused and said she would seek guidance from her grandmaster.
• Nangong Ye hugged Qingmo and suggested she visit Xie Jinhuan, then discovered that the pill prevented her Divine Soul from leaving her body.

Zhao Ling stayed aboard the ship with Xie Jinhuan while Ye Yunchi, overwhelmed by the Seven Emotions Pill, went looking for him. Ye Yunchi saw Zhao Ling and A Piao teasing Xie Jinhuan as he performed, and the chapter left her watching from outside the room, increasingly affected by the scene.

• Zhao Ling learned that Nangong Ye was safe but could not return yet, then stayed aboard the ship and prepared to drink and play games with Xie Jinhuan.
• Ye Yunchi struggled against the Seven Emotions Pill’s effects, dressed up, and left her room to look for Xie Jinhuan.
• Ye Yunchi encountered Lin Zisu in the passageway, and Lin Zisu directed her toward the stern where Xie Jinhuan was playing music.
• Ye Yunchi peered through the door and saw Zhao Ling and A Piao flirting with Xie Jinhuan while he sang and played the pipa.
• Ye Yunchi watched the increasingly intimate scene and let out a gasp outside the room.

Xie Jinhuan hosted Zhao Ling and Ye Yunchi for drinks, where their conversation and question game grew increasingly flirtatious. The chapter ended with Ye Yunchi struggling to resist her attraction as she trapped Xie Jinhuan’s hand between her thighs beneath the table.

• Ye Yunchi stumbled upon Zhao Ling and Xie Jinhuan together, then joined them for drinks after learning the Eldest Princess was visiting.
• Zhao Ling and Ye Yunchi discussed Ye Yunchi’s Confucian background and possible distant ties to Ye Sheng’s family.
• The three played a question-and-answer drinking game, and Xie Jinhuan answered obscure literary questions that stumped both women.
• As the drinking continued, Zhao Ling flirted with Xie Jinhuan, while Ye Yunchi grew increasingly affected by wine and her heart demon.
• Xie Jinhuan touched Ye Yunchi beneath the table, and she trapped his hand between her thighs while struggling to stop him from lifting her skirt.

After getting caught in an intimate encounter with Zhao Ling and Ye Yunchi, Nangong Ye panicked about her feelings for Xie Jinhuan and asked him to pretend he had not noticed. She fainted under the knowing looks of Zhao Ling, Big Wanyi, and Zisu, while Linghu Qingmo arrived and immediately worried over Xie Jinhuan’s supposed injury.

• After Zhao Ling and Xie Jinhuan drank together, Nangong Ye regained control and found him touching her while Ye Yunchi slept nearby.
• Ye Yunchi woke, hurried out, and scrubbed Xie Jinhuan’s hand with her handkerchief before leaving.
• Nangong Ye confronted Xie Jinhuan, learned that Zhao Ling knew about their relationship, and told him to act as though he had not noticed her feelings until her master gave a verdict.
• Nangong Ye returned to the side hall, saw Zhao Ling, Big Wanyi, and Zisu watching her knowingly, and fainted.
• Linghu Qingmo arrived aboard the Northern Darkness Sect’s tower ship and rushed to check Xie Jinhuan after hearing he had been stabbed.

Xie Jinhuan gave Linghu Qingmo a powerful flying sword and explained how he would fund its growth, while the Azure Dragon’s power caused an unexpected change in their intimate encounter. On the way to the Eldest Princess’s Residence, Zhao Ling explored her new qilin abilities and questioned the unconscious Nangong Ye about his unusual purity.

• Xie Jinhuan gave Linghu Qingmo a tiny flying sword that could grow into a weapon rivaling an Immortal Weapon, and promised to provide the resources it needed.
• Linghu Qingmo kissed Xie Jinhuan to thank him, and the Azure Dragon’s power caused Xie Jinhuan to begin lactating.
• Zhao Ling examined her newly strengthened body and discovered she could see souls and glimpse the thoughts within people’s heart lakes.
• Zhao Ling apologized to Bu Yuehua for intruding, then asked how Nangong Ye had remained unstained despite his intimate activities.
• Bu Yuehua said Nangong Ye avoided impurities by taking Grain-Avoidance Pills, and Lin Wanyi gave Zhao Ling a bottle of pills as a pretext to end the conversation.

As the ferries left Dragonbone Shoal, Ye Yunchi confronted Madam Han about Xie Jinhuan and learned that her mother had left a letter for her. Meanwhile, Xie Jinhuan paid Blood Rain Tower and ordered it to investigate the Gu Poison Sect in the Southern Border.

• Ye Yunchi boarded the Hundred Flowers Grove ferry after hearing Madam Han imitate Xie Jinhuan flirting with her.
• Madam Han revealed she had mimicked Xie Jinhuan and teased Ye Yunchi about her recent intimacy with him.
• Madam Han returned Ye Yunchi's sword and said she would give her mother's letter to Ye Yunchi if she married Xie Jinhuan as his principal wife.
• Ye Yunchi insisted she would not become a concubine and left after Madam Han made more suggestive jokes.
• Xie Jinhuan gave Fan Hainie silver notes for Blood Rain Tower and ordered its informants to investigate the Gu Poison Sect across the Southern Border.

Xie Jinhuan invited Ye Yunchi to accompany him to Luojing, and she confessed that she was troubled by her feelings for him because he was engaged. He declared his affection and intention to take responsibility, then kissed her, leaving her flustered and still unsure whether she could accept a place in his household.

• Xie Jinhuan found Ye Yunchi on the ferry and invited her to guard his journey to Luojing.
• Ye Yunchi thanked Xie Jinhuan for respecting her boundaries while she was drugged and admitted she had retrieved her sword.
• Ye Yunchi confessed that she had feelings for Xie Jinhuan but feared becoming a secondary wife because he was engaged.
• Xie Jinhuan embraced Ye Yunchi, explained how her courage and kindness had won his affection, and promised to take responsibility for her.
• Xie Jinhuan kissed Ye Yunchi until she became confused, then left her alone to struggle with her feelings and insistence on a proper marriage.

Xie Jinhuan’s party continued their return journey, with Nangong Ye leaving for Purple Emblem Mountain and Empress Dowager Guo setting out to visit it. Meanwhile, He Can and Zhang Chu arrived near Danyang with a shipment of herbs and learned that the Nether God Sect had rebuilt its Luojing Branch Altar.

• Lin Wanyi and Xie Jinhuan spent the morning together while Nangong Ye lay beside them, then Nangong Ye left for Purple Emblem Mountain.
• Empress Dowager Guo told Xie Jinhuan to go coax Ye Ci’s daughter and then vanished toward Purple Emblem Mountain.
• Coal Ball scolded Xie Jinhuan for neglecting her, and he soothed her while thanking Sister Guo for the smooth return voyage.
• He Can and Zhang Chu unloaded medicinal herbs near Danyang after being sent there by the Nether God Sect.
• Zhang Chu asked their leader Zitong about the sect’s plans, and Zitong answered that the rebuilt Luojing Branch Altar had only two heads to offer.

He Can and Zhang Chu were sent to Danyang under a Gu curse to spy on the Righteous Path and disrupt its plans, while Zitong headed toward the Academy. Xie Jinhuan returned to Luojing with Ye Yunchi and Lin Zisu, where his supporters welcomed him and Steward Hou nearly caused trouble by calling him emperor-like.

• Zitong told He Can and Zhang Chu to hide in Danyang, report intelligence, and collect an antidote every seven days because the Nether God Sect had infected them with Seven-Extinction Gu.
• The caravan entered Luojing, and Zitong watched the Academy before disappearing into the streets.
• At the harbor, Xie Jinhuan and Lin Zisu persuaded Ye Yunchi to accompany them home by offering her a chance to appraise palace calligraphy and paintings.
• Xie Jinhuan disembarked with the Northern Darkness Sect's guests and greeted the crowds and his welcoming party.
• Steward Hou praised Xie Jinhuan's dragonlike bearing and called him emperor-like, prompting Xie Jinhuan to signal him to stop.

Xie Jinhuan returned to Capital City with Zhao Ling, Linghu Qingmo, and Nai Duo, while Zhao Ling used her True Eye and saw Ye Hongshang inside the Zhenglun Sword. In a carriage behind them, Ye Yunchi questioned Lin Wanyi about her place in Xie Jinhuan’s household, leaving Lin Wanyi struggling to explain.

• Xie Jinhuan showed Zhao Ling, Linghu Qingmo, and Nai Duo the Heavenly Treasures he had brought back as their carriage traveled toward Capital City.
• Nai Duo embraced Xie Jinhuan and poured wine for him to drink, while Zhao Ling watched and activated her True Eye.
• Zhao Ling saw Xie Jinhuan’s dragonlike Divine Soul and Ye Hongshang inside the Zhenglun Sword, then asked Xie Jinhuan about the sword spirit.
• Xie Jinhuan told Zhao Ling that the Zhenglun Sword had a spirit and that he was only using the sword, while Ye Hongshang watched unseen.
• Ye Yunchi asked Lin Wanyi about her relationship with Xie Jinhuan and her standing among his partners, and Lin Wanyi struggled to answer.

After settling his expedition, Xie Jinhuan returned to the Danyang Marquis Household’s celebration, where his companions gathered and his relationships with Duoduo and Linghu Qingmo grew more intimate. He left the banquet to check on Ye Hongshang and Ming Ji before joining the others.

• Lin Wanyi gave Ye Yunchi a Sudden Enlightenment Pill, claiming it could help resolve doubts and household disputes.
• Xie Jinhuan returned to the Marquis’s Residence with a pendant for Duoduo, who pulled him into a room and kissed and teased him while A Piao recorded them.
• Nangong Ye stayed behind in the Tea Room while Linghu Qingmo went to check whether Xie Jinhuan had returned.
• Duoduo told Linghu Qingmo that Xie Jinhuan was back, and Xie Jinhuan met him in the passageway and kissed him before they headed to the banquet.
• Xie Jinhuan saw the gathered guests, learned Ye Hongshang was resting and Ming Ji was absent, and went to check on them before joining the celebration.

Ye Yunchi struggled with her feelings for Xie Jinhuan, took a pill that made her more willing to accept a lesser place in his household, and fled after he kissed her. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Guo secretly altered Purple Emblem Mountain’s plants to torment Qixia True Person and left with Xie Jinhuan for the banquet.

• Ye Yunchi took the Sudden Enlightenment Pill and found herself rationalizing becoming Xie Jinhuan’s lesser wife despite resisting the idea.
• Xie Jinhuan praised Ye Yunchi’s appearance, kissed her, and touched her until she pulled away and ran toward the banquet courtyard.
• Zhang Guan told A Cai a story about a winter melon spirit and the strange rule against saying “winter melon” at night on Purple Emblem Mountain.
• Empress Dowager Guo used her power to make the mountain’s plants grow taller and planted scallions to mock Qixia True Person’s height.
• Xie Jinhuan found Empress Dowager Guo by Qixia True Person’s former residence and invited her to the banquet, unaware of her plan.

At a drunken victory feast, Ye Hongshang used Xie Jinhuan’s hand to create increasingly intimate encounters with Zhao Ling and Ye Yunchi. When Bu Yuehua accidentally tore Nangong Ye’s skirt, the ensuing retaliation turned the Banquet Hall into a chaotic clothes-tearing brawl, leaving Xie Jinhuan overwhelmed.

• Zhao Ling hosted a lavish feast at the Danyang Marquis Household to celebrate the trip to Dragonbone Shoal, and the guests drank, danced, and entertained themselves.
• Ye Hongshang vanished into Xie Jinhuan and guided his hand to Zhao Ling, who then secretly touched him beneath his robe.
• Xie Jinhuan’s hand moved onto Ye Yunchi’s leg, and Ye Yunchi let it remain while she continued gambling with Zhao Ling.
• Bu Yuehua stumbled and tore Nangong Ye’s skirt, exposing her stockings and underwear, and the guests laughed at Nangong Ye’s embarrassment.
• Nangong Ye tore Bu Yuehua’s skirt in retaliation, and the two women fought until Linghu Qingmo and Lin Wanyi tried to intervene.
• Lin Wanyi accidentally tore Linghu Qingmo’s skirt, prompting him to retaliate as the guests chased and tore at one another’s clothes while Xie Jinhuan watched.

After the banquet, Xie Jinhuan cared for the drunken Ye Yunchi and later gave Ye Hongshang a bath and massage. Zhao Ling went looking for him and found him alone in the bathing room vigorously scrubbing the stone platform, leaving her to question what he was doing.

• Xie Jinhuan carried the drunken Ye Yunchi to her room, where she confessed her wish to marry him and he played his bone flute until she fell asleep.
• Xie Jinhuan took Ye Hongshang to the Main House bathing pool and massaged her while they discussed her real body and having a child together.
• Duoduo helped the drunken Zhao Ling to bed, but Zhao Ling woke up and asked where Xie Jinhuan was.
• Zhao Ling and Duoduo searched the residence for Xie Jinhuan and heard splashing in the Main House bathroom.
• Zhao Ling peeked inside and found Xie Jinhuan alone, vigorously scrubbing and oiling the white stone platform, then called his name.

Xie Jinhuan met privately with Zhao Ling, who proposed rewards for his service and declared him Great Qian’s imperial son-in-law. After they discussed his Northern Region plans and Zhao Ling’s new cultivation, the encounter grew intimate and ended with Zhao Ling in pain and Duoduo joining them.

• Xie Jinhuan hid that he had been scrubbing A Piao’s back when Zhao Ling and Nai Duo entered the bathhouse.
• Zhao Ling met Xie Jinhuan in Jinhuan Pavilion and proposed elevating him to commandery duke while asking about his role in the cultivation world.
• Xie Jinhuan told Zhao Ling that Sha Tu had likely killed Duan Yuechou’s son and said he would bring Zhao Ling to the Northern Region.
• Zhao Ling declared Xie Jinhuan Great Qian’s imperial son-in-law and asked him to help ease the Emperor’s burdens.
• Zhao Ling and Xie Jinhuan became intimate, but she tensed in pain, and he and Duoduo comforted her.

Linghu Qingmo sneaked out of bed to visit Xie Jinhuan, intending to thank him for finding a flying sword, but discovered Zhao Ling and Nai Duo had been hiding nearby and witnessed his bold advances. The chapter ended with Qingmo embarrassed and arguing over Xie Jinhuan while Zhao Ling teased them both.

• Linghu Qingmo pretended to leave to check on Ling'er, then sneaked out after Nangong Ye feigned sleep.
• Nangong Ye followed Qingmo from a distance, spotted him heading toward Xie Jinhuan's room, and hurried back to his own room.
• Linghu Qingmo entered Jinhuan Pavilion and climbed into bed with Xie Jinhuan, explaining that he had come to thank him for finding a flying sword.
• Linghu Qingmo tried to reward Xie Jinhuan with intimacy, but a hidden onlooker's laughter revealed Zhao Ling and Nai Duo beneath the quilt.
• Zhao Ling teased Qingmo about his past drunken behavior, and Qingmo struck Xie Jinhuan with a pillow before scolding Zhao Ling for touching him.

After a drunken night with Zhao Ling and Duoduo, Linghu Qingmo woke mortified and tried to recover, while Xie Jinhuan and the others teased and cared for him. Lin Wanyi arrived and provoked Qingmo into a scuffle, leaving Xie caught between them.

• The morning after drinking, Linghu Qingmo soaked in the bath and regretted how he had behaved while drunk.
• Zhao Ling dressed and thanked Xie Jinhuan for the night, then ordered him to go coax Qingmo; she scolded Duoduo for helping push her into trouble.
• Xie Jinhuan went downstairs and began scrubbing Qingmo's back despite Qingmo's protests.
• Lin Wanyi entered, mocked Qingmo by comparing their figures, and provoked him into a fight.
• Lin Wanyi hid behind Xie Jinhuan as Qingmo chased her, and Xie stayed between them while they tussled.

Xie Jinhuan commissioned Dharma Artifacts for Zisu and Lin Wanyi, then learned that Shang Mingzhen had surfaced in the Northern Region. In Luojing, Zhao Ling and Linghu Qingmo fought over their shared relationship with Xie Jinhuan, while Empress Dowager Guo noticed something familiar about Bu Qingya.

• Xie Jinhuan and Lin Wanyi inspected the Wubei Institute’s exhibits while Xu Hunli discussed expensive custom Dharma Artifacts with Zisu.
• Coal Ball delivered a secret letter reporting that Shang Mingzhen had been spotted in eastern Northern Zhou and seemed to be heading toward the Grasslands.
• Zhao Ling and Linghu Qingmo argued over their intimacy with Xie Jinhuan and clashed with their weapons after Qingmo insisted on keeping her away from him at night.
• Bu Yuehua brought Empress Dowager Guo to examine her father, Bu Qingya, but Guo could not restore his missing souls.
• Empress Dowager Guo said Bu Qingya reminded her of an object beneath the Vermilion Bird Mausoleum, though she was unsure why.