Chapter Summaries

After being killed by Yin Tingxue in his previous game life, Chen Yi awoke one month into a new run as a poisoned Western Depot Hundred Household. At the Xiang Prince's Residence, where he was about to help break Yin Tingxue's Longevity Bridge, he decided to find out what she was really like before choosing whether to kill or spare her.

• In his previous life, Chen Yi was hunted down and slowly tortured to death by Yin Tingxue, who blamed him for shattering her Longevity Bridge.
• Chen Yi awoke unharmed in his game-created body and saw that he had only three years to live because of a strange poison, along with a panel showing his martial arts and remaining True Qi.
• Chen Yi realized he had returned to the opening stage of his saved game, where he was an Embroidered Uniform Guard at the Xiang Prince's Residence during its confiscation.
• Remembering that he had broken Yin Tingxue's Longevity Bridge in the previous run, Chen Yi considered killing her but hesitated as he heard the household women sobbing.
• Chen Yi decided to see what Yin Tingxue was like before choosing what to do with her.

After the Xiang Prince's Residence was confiscated, Chen Yi confronted Yin Tingxue, the secretly designated Holy Maiden of the Bright-Dark Divine Sect, and stopped her from taking her life. He forced her to become his concubine, and she finally declared that she was his now.

• Yin Tingxue waited in the confiscated residence, believing the Bright-Dark Divine Sect would rescue her and keeping the banknotes she had been given.
• Chen Yi arrived, revealed that he knew Yin Tingxue was the sect's Holy Maiden, and led her to Silver Terrace Temple.
• Yin Tingxue burned her banknotes as an offering for her mother and prepared to die, but Chen Yi stayed his blade.
• Chen Yi told Yin Tingxue he would take her into his household as a concubine, and she resisted, saying she would rather die than submit.
• Chen Yi invoked Yin Tingxue's mother's last words, and Yin Tingxue seized his hand and declared herself his concubine.

Chen Yi coerced Yin Tingxue into signing an eight-year maidservant contract and calling him Master, gaining True Qi through the Grudge Yin-Yang Art. After learning the Great Star-Absorbing Art from her, he took her out of the Xiang Prince's Residence and left the chapter facing a potentially dangerous group of Embroidered Uniform Guards.

• Chen Yi threatened Yin Tingxue with the consequences for the Xiang Prince's Residence until she pressed her fingerprint onto an eight-year maidservant contract and called him Master.
• The Grudge Yin-Yang Art triggered, granting Chen Yi seven years of True Qi from their encounter and three years from Yin Tingxue's negative emotions.
• Chen Yi demanded the Great Star-Absorbing Art, and Yin Tingxue recited the technique from memory.
• Chen Yi spent ten years of True Qi to cultivate the fragment, reaching beginner level and learning he could absorb others' True Qi.
• Chen Yi led Yin Tingxue, her face covered, through the Xiang Prince's Residence and past grieving women condemned to the Jiaofang Bureau.
• At the residence gates, Chen Yi claimed he was taking Yin Tingxue to the Western Depot for interrogation; he noticed several newcomer guards watching her intently and rested his hand on his saber.

Chen Yi used the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique to kill three Demonic Cult spies, absorb Song Shengbao’s true qi, and frighten Yin Tingxue. He forced a kiss on her and gained true qi from her negative emotions.

• Chen Yi identified Song Shengbao and two Eastern Depot Agents as Demonic Cult spies who wanted to take Yin Tingxue.
• Chen Yi rapidly learned the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique and killed the two agents before defeating Song Shengbao.
• Chen Yi killed Song Shengbao, absorbed his foreign true qi, and threatened Yin Tingxue while she watched in fear.
• Chen Yi forced Yin Tingxue into a kiss, and the Grudge Yin-Yang Art converted her negative emotions into three years of true qi.

Min Ning investigated the deaths of three men and suspected Chen Yi had used the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique, while Min Ming was tasked with investigating him. After Min Ming tried to assassinate Chen Yi and he drained her true qi, he released her the next morning and faced Min Ning, who arrived to confront him about her sister.

• Min Ning identified the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique in Song Shengbao's broken saber and decided to investigate Chen Yi and ask him to help against Demonic Cult remnants.
• Min Ning warned Min Ming about Chen Yi, while Granny Qingmei revealed that Do Not Use Tower had also wanted Min Ming to investigate him.
• Chen Yi brought Yin Tingxue to his residence, then absorbed most of Min Ming's true qi after she entered his courtyard and attacked him.
• Chen Yi questioned Min Ming, freed her from her bonds, and sent her away the next morning after telling her not to investigate him again.
• Min Ning confronted Chen Yi about Min Ming, and he told her that Min Ming had begged him to take her first night but he had refused.

Chen Yi agreed to help Min Ning suppress Demonic Cult remnants at South Bank Ferry, despite the Western Depot men’s plan to extort them again. As they rode out, he reflected on an upcoming martial-arts ritual and refused Min Ning’s payment, leaving her to reconsider her judgment of him.

• Min Ning accused Chen Yi of harming Min Ming, then ordered him to join her in arresting Demonic Cult remnants at South Bank Ferry.
• Chen Yi agreed to help Min Ning after learning the Eastern Depot would not act because its director was rumored to have ties to Prince Xiang’s Residence.
• At the Western Depot, Chen Yi persuaded his men to go by claiming they would extort the Demonic Cult again, then told Min Ning they would secretly suppress the remnants.
• On the ride to South Bank Ferry, Chen Yi recalled the upcoming blessing ritual and the Shangqing Heart Method, while Min Ning told him about Sword Armor Zhou Yitang.
• Min Ning offered Chen Yi her remaining salary in gratitude, but he refused, prompting her to wonder whether she had misjudged him.

Chen Yi poisoned and killed Elder Li, then led the Western Depot in wiping out the Bright-Dark Divine Sect members at the teahouse. Overloaded with foreign True Qi and tormented by the Yin-Yang Art, he rode home with Min Ning, confessed his feelings, and reached for her, sending her negative emotion soaring.

• Chen Yi reassured Elder Li at the ferry teahouse, took his farewell money, and poisoned him with the tea.
• Chen Yi killed Elder Li and rallied the Western Depot to attack the Bright-Dark Divine Sect members; Min Ning fought beside him as the cultists were defeated.
• Chen Yi absorbed foreign True Qi from his victims until it overwhelmed him, then used the Grudge Yin-Yang Art to steady himself and asked Min Ning to ride him home.
• Chen Yi returned the Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique to Min Ning, who took his actions as proof of his chivalry.
• At his courtyard gate, Chen Yi confessed his amorous feelings to Min Ning and reached toward her, causing her negative emotion to rise to 92.

At Yinjian Mountain, Zhou Jianjia recognized Chen Yi across the water and said he had lost weight, while Chen Yi gained True Qi and combined two martial arts into the Sea-Overturning Saber Technique. He continued humiliating and controlling Yin Tingxue, and the chapter ended with Xue Youge planning to enter the palace and warn Chen Yi for disrupting the Eastern Depot’s arrangements.

• Zhou Jianjia watched Chen Yi from across the water and told Lu Ying that he had lost weight, revealing hatred and lingering affection in her expression.
• Chen Yi absorbed True Qi from Min Ning’s negative emotions, and Min Ning silently resolved to remember the humiliation after holding back from attacking him.
• Chen Yi perfected the Eagle-Fall Art and Jiao-Slaying Saber Technique, combined them into the Sea-Overturning Saber Technique, and kept his remaining True Qi in reserve.
• Chen Yi ordered Yin Tingxue to wash his feet, cooked lunch, and later shared a bed with her, frightening her into submission as she fell asleep in his arms.
• Li Hundred Household reported that Chen Yi had killed all sixteen Demonic Cult members instead of letting them board the boat, and Xue Youge decided to enter the palace and warn him.

Chen Yi defused an accusation from the Eastern Depot by pretending to agree to its terms, then warned Li Hundred Household that the Demonic Cult’s Holy Maiden scheme could implicate the depot. He secured the Eastern Depot’s Copper Bone Art manual in exchange for the warning and left planning to manipulate events to his advantage.

• Chen Yi read a memorial accusing him of taking a maid from the Xiang Prince’s Residence without authorization, while Director Wu explained that he had intercepted it before it reached the Empress Dowager.
• Li Hundred Household offered to withdraw the memorial if Chen Yi stopped crossing the Eastern Depot, and Chen Yi agreed to preserve the appearance of good relations.
• After leaving the study, Chen Yi told Li Hundred Household that the Demonic Cult’s plan to bring forth its Holy Maiden could implicate the Eastern Depot.
• Li Hundred Household believed Chen Yi’s warning and agreed to lend him the Eastern Depot’s Copper Bone Art manual in return.
• Chen Yi watched Li Hundred Household leave and resolved to use finesse to make opportunities come to him.

Chen Yi used Min Ning’s safety to force her sister Min Ming, a Do Not Use Tower operative, to meet him at Hundred Flowers Tower. He offered Min Ming a place as his bedchamber attendant, while Min Ning overheard and reacted angrily outside the room.

• Chen Yi mastered the Copper Bone Art and went to Hundred Flowers Tower before Min Ning’s planned visit to her sister.
• Chen Yi threatened Min Ming with Min Ning’s possible resignation, compelling Min Ming to receive him.
• Chen Yi revealed that he knew Min Ming worked for the Do Not Use Tower and warned that her secret could ruin Min Ning’s career.
• Chen Yi asked Min Ming to become his bedchamber attendant as Min Ning listened outside and clenched her fists.

Chen Yi infiltrated a Demonic Cult hideout under the identity of Song Shengbao and persuaded its members that the Eastern Depot planned to betray them. Min Ning followed him to the tavern, discovered his apparent allegiance to the cult, and was exposed as an intruder after triggering Muscle-Weakening Powder.

• Chen Yi pressured Min Ming to buy her freedom with an IOU and asked her to spread rumors that the Eastern Depot was colluding with the Demonic Cult and targeting its Holy Maiden.
• Chen Yi traveled to the outskirts of the Capital City in an Eastern Depot uniform while Min Ning secretly followed him.
• Chen Yi entered a Demonic Cult hideout using its password, claimed to be the long-hidden spy Song Shengbao, and convinced the Discipline Elder that the Eastern Depot intended to betray the cult.
• Chen Yi urged the Demonic Cult members to protect the Holy Maiden and turn against the Eastern Depot, then prepared to leave.
• Min Ning accidentally triggered a bottle of Muscle-Weakening Powder, and the Demonic Cult members identified her as an intruder as her legs gave way.

Chen Yi killed Liu Shi and Ma Deng, then arranged for Min Ning to carry their heads to the Eastern Depot and deepen its rift with the Demonic Cult. He forced Yin Tingxue to sign a Death Contract, and the chapter ended with Min Ning spying on her as she wrote in blood.

• Chen Yi killed Ma Deng and Liu Shi when they prepared to execute Min Ning, then used her fear and anger to secure her cooperation.
• Chen Yi told Min Ning to take the severed heads to the Eastern Depot and claim she had killed the Demonic Cult members, while he returned to Capital City and wounded himself to support the story.
• Xue Youge learned rumors claimed the Eastern Depot was protecting the Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden and ordered the bureau to reduce contact with the cult and watch for the Holy Maiden's emergence.
• Chen Yi made Yin Tingxue sign a Death Contract and threatened to burn Silver Terrace Temple if she refused; she signed but began considering escape.
• The next morning, Min Ning came to Chen Yi's locked home and saw Yin Tingxue writing in blood on a sash.

Chen Yi returned home to find Yin Tingxue missing and a blood-marked message pointing to Donghua Gate, while Min Ning’s attempt to protect her sparked a battle between the Demonic Cult and the Eastern Depot. The chapter ended with Eastern Depot agents identifying Yin Tingxue as the Holy Maiden and invoking Xue Youge’s order to kill her.

• Chen Yi found his door broken, Yin Tingxue gone, and a note threatening him to leave Min Ning’s elder sister alone; he took the blood-marked sash bearing the unfinished message, “Donghua Gate, save...”.
• Min Ning kept Yin Tingxue at her residence, but Demonic Cult followers attacked after recognizing the Holy Maiden and forced them to fight their way into the rain.
• Xue Youge rallied the Eastern Depot against the surprise assault and ordered his agents to kill the Holy Maiden if they found her.
• Min Ning fought off Demonic Cult attackers while protecting Yin Tingxue, who was wounded by a ricocheting needle.
• Eastern Depot agents drove back the attackers and entered the alley, where Min Ning identified Yin Tingxue as the Holy Maiden; a Chief Constable cited Xue Youge’s order to kill her.

Chen Yi arrived in the rain to save the wounded Yin Tingxue from the Eastern Depot agents who had orders to kill her, then fought them while carrying her on his back. He killed the Chief Constable and many agents, leaving thirteen men alive and terrified.

• The Eastern Depot Chief Constable moved to kill Yin Tingxue, and Min Ning tried to shield her despite being wounded.
• Chen Yi appeared, stopped the Chief Constable's strike, staunched Yin Tingxue's bleeding, and carried her on his back.
• Yin Tingxue begged Chen Yi to save her and threatened to hate him for life before fainting.
• Chen Yi fought the Eastern Depot agents in the narrow alley, killing several while carrying Yin Tingxue.
• The Chief Constable attacked Yin Tingxue, but Chen Yi blocked his blow and beheaded him.
• Chen Yi faced the thirteen surviving agents after killing twenty-one men that night.

Chen Yi killed Xue Youge after the Eastern Depot director defeated the Demonic Cult elder, then arranged the scene to make Xue’s death appear heroic. When Wu Qingsheng questioned Chen Yi’s presence, Chen persuaded him that he had no motive to betray Xue and secured a promise to report the Eastern Depot’s losses and valor truthfully.

• Chen Yi ordered Min Ning to take the wounded Yin Tingxue home and warned her not to let anything happen to her.
• Xue Youge defeated the Demonic Cult Discipline Elder, but Chen Yi stabbed him from the shadows and absorbed the elder’s true qi through Xue’s body.
• Chen Yi dressed a similar-looking corpse in Demonic Cult clothes, then declared that Xue Youge had killed the elder and died valiantly.
• After the Western Depot arrived, Chen Yi mourned Xue before Wu Qingsheng and defended himself by citing his connection to Xue and the Copper Bone Art he had received.
• Chen Yi urged Wu Qingsheng to report Xue’s sacrifice and the Eastern Depot’s courage truthfully, and Wu agreed.

Chen Yi warned Min Ning that she could not take Yin Tingxue or her elder sister away without being able to protect them, then kissed her before sending her home. Meanwhile, Wu Qingsheng and Song Tong investigated the Eastern Depot deaths and concluded that a hidden Demonic Cult master with at least two hundred years of true qi had fought Director Xue.

• Chen Yi told Min Ning to consider whether she could protect Yin Tingxue and her elder sister before trying to take them away.
• Chen Yi kissed Min Ning, then told her to go home; afterward, he checked his remaining true qi and went to see the sleeping Yin Tingxue.
• Chen Yi recalled the woman he had hurt in a previous life, Zhou Yitang, as Yin Tingxue stirred in her sleep.
• Song Tong reported to Wu Qingsheng that twenty-one Eastern Depot agents had been killed in the same alley, nearly all by one or two saber strokes.
• Wu Qingsheng and Song Tong reasoned that an unknown Demonic Cult master had fought Director Xue and possessed no less than two hundred years of true qi.

Wu Qingsheng and Lin Yan discussed who should temporarily lead the Eastern Depot, while Chen Yi told Yin Tingxue that her old life was gone and she had nowhere to return. Yin Tingxue resigned herself to being Chen Yi’s concubine, though she wondered why he had taken one if he disliked women.

• Lin Yan proposed promoting Chen Yi to Thousand Household and having him serve as acting Eastern Depot director, and Wu Qingsheng began to consider the plan.
• Chen Yi warned Yin Tingxue not to run away again and told her he would destroy Silver Terrace Temple if she did.
• Chen Yi explained that the Demonic Cult in the Capital City had been wiped out and a corpse had been disguised as Yin Tingxue, making the world believe the Holy Maiden was dead.
• Yin Tingxue realized she had no way back and resigned herself to being Chen Yi’s concubine as he held her in bed.
• Yin Tingxue reassured herself that Chen Yi disliked women, then wondered why he had taken a concubine.

Chen Yi refused the Lin faction’s push to make him acting director of the Eastern Depot, even as Lin Yan pressured him to accept Grand Secretary Lin’s invitation. Director Wu gave Chen Yi the rare Cangshan Fist manual, leaving him with an unwanted political summons and an unexpected martial art.

• Chen Yi went to the Western Depot, where Director Wu told him that Lin Yan wanted to discuss the vacant Eastern Depot directorship.
• Chen Yi realized the Lin faction wanted him to serve as acting director and decided he wanted to cut ties with them.
• Chen Yi refused Lin Yan’s offer twice, but Lin Yan left an invitation for him to visit Grand Secretary Lin’s residence.
• Director Wu urged Chen Yi to endure the pressure, then gave him a hidden manual called Cangshan Fist.
• Chen Yi recognized Cangshan Fist as a powerful midgame art and asked Director Wu where the manual had come from.

Chen Yi learned that Director Wu had entrusted him with the Cangshan Fist, a martial art left behind by Min He, and weighed it against the True Qi he had saved for the Grudge Yin-Yang Art. At the Jiaofang Bureau, he found that Min Ning had altered the register for Yin Tingxue and teased her with the manual, leaving her torn between wanting her grandfather’s legacy and resisting Chen Yi.

• Director Wu told Chen Yi that Min He had left the Cangshan Fist with him to pass on to someone worthy, and Chen Yi accepted the manual.
• Chen Yi visited the Jiaofang Bureau and found Min Ning had altered the register concerning Yin Tingxue; Min Ning begged him to let her sister go.
• Chen Yi received three years of True Qi from Min Ning’s negative emotions and considered whether to invest his saved True Qi in the Cangshan Fist or the Grudge Yin-Yang Art.
• Min Ning warned Chen Yi about the coming Prayer Daoist Grounds, and Chen Yi kissed her forehead before she left.
• Chen Yi showed Min Ning the Cangshan Fist manual, and she asked why he was not practicing it; he said his left hand wanted to, but his right hand disagreed.

Min Ning tried to shield her sister Min Ming from Chen Yi, while Granny Qingmei ordered Min Ming to seduce and poison him on behalf of the Do Not Use Tower. At the Lin Residence, Grand Secretary Lin told Lin Yan that the Empress Dowager might target Chen Yi as a supposed descendant of the Jin Chen clan, whether or not the claim was true.

• Min Ning told Min Ming she would draw Chen Yi's attention to herself to protect them both, and Min Ming pleaded with her not to ruin herself.
• After Min Ning left, Granny Qingmei ordered Min Ming to use her maidenhead as the Do Not Use Tower's gift to Chen Yi and to administer Three Yang Qi-Dispersing Paste when he was most vulnerable.
• Grand Secretary Lin told Lin Yan that the Empress Dowager was summoning Chen Yi, a Western Depot Thousand Household.
• Grand Secretary Lin explained that Chen Yi claimed descent from the Jin Chen clan, which had slaughtered the An Household's main line, and said the Empress Dowager could treat him as a descendant even if he was not one.