Chapter Summaries

Yu Mo confronted the deranged scholar and tried to persuade him to join a plan to save Sin City, while Yu Sheng and Shi Guang watched remotely. The scholar alternated between lucidity and frenzy, then rejected Yu Mo’s appeal and called them all the worst people in the world.

• Shi Guang suggested taking the scholar away, and Yu Sheng used the wheelchair to trace a question mark while Shi Guang operated the remote control.
• Yu Mo calmly spoke to the scholar about Sin City, then closed his eyes and risked his life waiting for the scholar’s response.
• The scholar ranted about blood and called Yu Mo a madman, but Yu Mo said the blood had value.
• The scholar argued that humanity exploited the world, and Yu Mo agreed they were robbers but said they needed to save it.
• Yu Mo asked the scholar to join a righteous team that would return blood to the earth, but the scholar rejected the idea and called them the worst people in the world.

Yu Mo confronted the Confucian Scholar’s belief that the world might be an illusion and that death could reveal reality. After promising he could prove or disprove the theory, Yu Mo asked for a week to find an answer, leaving the Confucian Scholar waiting for his response.

• Yu Mo challenged the Confucian Scholar’s claim that killing people was evil, arguing that creating more suffering would better serve his aim of being evil.
• The Confucian Scholar explained his theory that their world might be a body or an illusion and that death could return consciousness to a real world.
• Yu Mo stayed silent, unable to give proof, and the Confucian Scholar grew furious and demanded that Yu Mo test the theory by dying.
• The Confucian Scholar grabbed Yu Mo by the neck, but released him when Yu Mo said he could prove the theory.
• Yu Mo asked for one week to find a satisfactory answer, and the Confucian Scholar accused him of toying with him.

After meeting Confucian Scholar, Yu Mo reflected on what it meant to be himself in Sin City and returned to the Inner City with Yu Sheng and Shi Guang. At the gate, he defended the need to break old rules to build anew, while the blind old man rejected a man seeking entry.

• Yu Mo left Confucian Scholar after agreeing to a week, then asked Yu Sheng what he thought about Confucian Scholar’s question; Yu Sheng and Shi Guang said they were content with their lives as they were.
• Yu Mo accepted that he was himself in Sin City and tried to shout his feelings, but Yu Sheng stopped him because the Lawless Outlaws had forbidden shouting.
• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang brought three days of rations for the blind old man at the Inner City's gates, but Yu Sheng insisted that rules could not be broken.
• The blind old man asked Yu Mo whether he agreed that breaking rules could lead to destruction and new rules; Yu Mo argued that destruction was sometimes necessary to bring new life.
• A man offered two sweet potatoes and asked the blind old man for permission to enter Sin City, but he received no approval and quickly left.
• Yu Sheng wondered why the man had been refused, since he had seemed qualified to enter Sin City.

Yu Mo learned that the blind old man considered him the strongest person in the Outer City and warned him to avoid the dangerous madman. Later, Sun Wen and Li Zi investigated a suspicious father and daughter in Er City while maintaining Sun Wen’s wastrel disguise.

• The blind old man admitted Yu Mo had been qualified to enter Sin City six months earlier, warned him about a dangerous madman, and offered Yu Sheng and Shi Guang a favor.
• Yu Sheng explained that he and Shi Guang had already received thirteen favors from the old man and described the rumored warden who might control Sin City’s gates and kill escapees.
• Yu Mo accepted that he might meet the warden, then left with Yu Sheng and Shi Guang.
• At a bar, Li Zi told Sun Wen that Zhao Dabao and his five-year-old daughter might be connected to the Evil Cult because their details matched a suspicious father and daughter in a Light Group file.
• Sun Wen continued acting like a wealthy wastrel as Li Zi discreetly watched a young man who tried to flatter him.

Sun Wen and Li Zi investigated Zhao Dabao’s suspicious records and planned to keep the suspected Evil Cult operative under surveillance before setting a trap. Zhao Dabao then returned home to An An, whose blindness the kindergarten teacher quietly lamented.

• Sun Wen maintained his arrogant rich-kid act until the Guard Bureau withdrew the people tailing him, while one figure secretly followed a young man and his underlings.
• Li Zi told Sun Wen that Zhao Dabao’s records had inconsistencies, that villagers said he had left his home village six months earlier, and that no daughter appeared in his original file.
• Sun Wen suspected Zhao Dabao might have been replaced and linked him to the Evil Cult’s earlier fire, then ordered Li Zi to avoid tipping him off and close the net in three days.
• Li Zi reported that the undercover team was ready, and Sun Wen told him to spend two more days investigating the area around Zhao Dabao’s home.
• Zhao Dabao picked up An An from kindergarten and carried her home through East Willow Alley as the teacher regretted that the child was blind.

Zhao Dabao concealed his growing power while caring for An An, and Lin Siyuan tracked him down on a mission connected to Yu Mo. In Sin City, Yu Mo, Yu Sheng, and Shi Guang prepared to face a group of Core Area residents demanding Yu Mo and their food.

• Zhao Dabao practiced with a Demon Crystal at night and had nearly recovered to the fourth awakening while An An slept inside.
• Sun Yingxiong set aside his memories of Yu Mo and continued directing Ink Pavilion's work through the intelligence report.
• Lin Siyuan found Zhao Dabao's file, told his group leader he had located him, and headed toward Er City to complete his mission.
• Yu Sheng and Shi Guang prepared for an attack on their home in Sin City, while Yu Mo woke and had his wheelchair raised with Shi Guang's remote.
• Yu Sheng told Yu Mo that twelve Core Area residents surrounded them and that each was far stronger than Outer City residents.
• A tall, thin man offered to let Yu Sheng and Shi Guang leave if they handed over Yu Mo, surrendered their food, and each cut off a finger.

Yu Sheng and Shi Guang fought off the group trying to reach the room, using a dagger, crossbow, and buried explosives. Yu Mo paid Shi Guang a million to join in, but his first attempt to detonate a bomb failed as she coached him from the window.

• Yu Sheng attacked the middle-aged man while Shi Guang supported him with crossbow bolts, forcing the man to retreat despite taking several wounds.
• The black-clad woman approached the doorway, sensed danger, and fled just before a buried explosive blasted her away.
• Shi Guang repeatedly shot at the injured woman, while some of the attackers fled and the others cautiously regrouped to charge the room.
• The woman urged the remaining attackers to focus on the city exit slots, and seven of them advanced toward the room while dodging crossbow fire.
• Yu Mo offered Shi Guang one million to let him take part, and she gave him bomb remote controls and instructions.
• Yu Mo hid by the doorway and pressed a button too early, failing to detonate the bomb as the black-clad woman approached; Shi Guang told him to wait until someone stood directly over it.

Shi Guang and Yu Sheng defended Yu Mo’s house with traps and weapons, killing Zhao Tianlei while the woman in black escaped. As more attackers reached the room and Yu Mo ran out of bomb triggers, Shi Guang went out to fight them.

• Yu Sheng used the house’s traps to scatter the attackers, while Shi Guang fired at the woman in black and Yu Mo detonated a bomb.
• Shi Guang spared the wounded woman in black at Yu Mo’s request, then called out that he would not pay to save Zhao Tianlei.
• Yu Sheng killed Zhao Tianlei instantly, and the woman in black fled after realizing the intel about him was outdated.
• The remaining attackers charged toward Yu Mo, and he discovered his trial pass had only provided two bomb triggers.
• Shi Guang picked up the Entrenching Tool and walked out to face the attackers.

Shi Guang held off three attackers with a spinning Entrenching Tool while Yu Sheng overwhelmed the men confronting him. Yu Sheng left one opponent alive and offered him to someone, leaving the attackers’ plan to escape Sin City in chaos.

• The attackers split up, sending three men to stop Shi Guang, three to hold off Yu Sheng, and one toward the doorway.
• Shi Guang rejected the oldest man's attempt to negotiate and used the Entrenching Tool's growing momentum to keep all three attackers from reaching her.
• Yu Sheng broke the attackers' weapons and badly wounded one of the men as they tried to retreat.
• Yu Sheng repeatedly spared one opponent, then asked, "Want this one?"

Yu Mo and Yu Sheng turned the failed ambush into a contest for spots to leave Sin City, sparing several attackers and setting a half-month deadline. After the survivors left, Yu Mo predicted that the burly man would maneuver between rival attackers to secure his own advantage.

• Yu Sheng knocked one attacker unconscious, while one of the remaining men abandoned his partner and fled.
• The wounded attacker offered to surrender and sacrifice a hand, so Yu Mo promised him a chance to compete for a spot in the Inner City in half a month against the man who had fled.
• Yu Mo judged four other attackers mediocre, then offered them spots on the condition that only two return alive; three left, followed by the burly man.
• Yu Mo predicted that the burly man would seek allies among the two men set to duel, offering help in exchange for their support.

Yu Mo lamented being trapped in his locked wheelchair while Yu Sheng explained its safety features and cleaned up. As they discussed Yu Mo’s impending death and the Light Group’s dirty work, Yu Sheng proposed Lawless Outlaws as a possible successor, leaving the unaware man unknowingly nominated.

• Yu Mo asked Yu Sheng to move his wheelchair, but Yu Sheng explained that Shi Guang had remotely locked it and installed a tracker.
• Yu Mo complained about the wheelchair’s elaborate safeguards and tried to get Yu Sheng to talk to him.
• Yu Mo admitted that he was dying and described the Light Group as people who did the dirty work.
• Yu Mo said Shi Guang was suited to replace him, but Yu Sheng objected because she was his friend and their deal ruled it out.
• Yu Sheng suggested Lawless Outlaws as a capable successor, pointing out that he was intelligent, experienced in intelligence work, and as talkative as Yu Mo.

Yu Mo reflected on his fear of death and hoped someone would carry on his beliefs, only to discover Yu Sheng had not heard him. Meanwhile, Sun Wen’s operation arrested corrupt officials in Er City, while Zhao Dabao noticed that Old Lin from the archives was missing and called the Ink Pavilion service desk to locate him.

• Yu Mo spoke to Yu Sheng about the burdens of living in Sin City, his hopes for a successor, and his fear of dying, but Yu Sheng was too far away to hear him.
• Shi Guang returned with a shovel and cart, and Yu Mo asked to be wheeled back into the shade and given ice water or cola.
• Sun Wen and the Light Group arrested the Guard Bureau director, his younger brother, officials from the Ink Pavilion and Dark Pavilion branches, and other local officials.
• Zhao Dabao watched the arrests, noticed that Old Lin from the archives was absent, and hid nearby to make sure he did not appear.
• Zhao Dabao called the Ink Pavilion service desk using a new SIM Card and claimed he urgently needed Director Lin to process his entry paperwork.

Zhao Dabao hid his suspicions and continued caring for An An while secretly contacting an ally and training through the night. In the Wilderness, Sun Wen and Li Zi prepared to investigate the suspected arson mastermind, and Sun Wen decided to summon help.

• Zhao Dabao claimed family leave, destroyed his SIM card, and worried that An An had compromised his identity.
• Zhao Dabao comforted An An over her hard rice, then cooked dinner with her and shared a happy meal.
• Late at night, Zhao Dabao used a hidden phone to request a discreet inquiry into whether strangers had visited Zhao Village, then trained until dawn.
• Sun Wen learned that the Sixth Awakening senior had returned to Er City and warned Li Zi that the suspected mastermind, possibly Zong Ren, was dangerous and cautious.
• Sun Wen and Li Zi planned to avoid Zhao Dabao’s street and find ordinary identities, while Sun Wen decided to summon an ally and called Mr. Zhao.

Sun Wen revealed that he and several classmates had secretly stayed in contact, then waited with Li Zi for Zhao Zicheng to arrive. Zhao Zicheng and Qi Tian joined them, while Li Zi reflected on her distance from her classmates.

• Sun Wen called Zhao Zicheng and other classmates, telling them he had found someone who looked like Zong Ren and sending them his location.
• Sun Wen told Li Zi that the Ink Academy's only rule was to stay alive without breaking the law, and said Zhao Zicheng would arrive that afternoon.
• Zhao Zicheng arrived with Qi Tian, and Sun Wen learned Zhao had received a scar during an arrest operation.
• Zhao Zicheng teased Sun Wen about bringing Li Zi, and the two friends roughhoused while Li Zi watched their closeness.
• Qi Tian asked Li Zi if she felt unable to fit in, then walked away muttering about Yuan Zhong's hairstyle.

Li Zi reflected on Sun Wen’s words as the Ink Academy’s 140th Cohort reunited, while the 141st Cohort remained less close. In Er City, Zhao Dabao kept watch over An An through the night after receiving a call, his conflicted feelings deepening as he saw how much she relied on him.

• Li Zi wondered whether she was the fool after Qi Tian suggested that he might be the problem, while Sun Wen teased Zhao Zicheng about buying his pills.
• Mu Yu arrived with Wang Youcai, and the other 140th Cohort newcomers gathered, leaving only Yu Sheng absent.
• The newcomers joked together as A Tai helped alter their appearances, and Sun Wen sent most of the group to camp outside Er City while taking a smaller party into the city.
• Zhao Dabao received a phone call, switched off his phone, and watched the sleeping An An through the window all night.
• When An An woke and panicked at first because Zhao Dabao was not beside her, she calmed after hearing him in the kitchen; Zhao Dabao watched her through a mirror and remained subdued.

Zhao Dabao sensed the investigation closing in and used the Ink Pavilion’s rules to move openly while Zhao Zicheng followed him. After Sun Wen revealed that another village had been slaughtered to prevent witnesses from testifying, Zhao Zicheng confronted Zhao Dabao, who warned that the Light Group’s reputation would not protect him forever.

• Zhao Dabao watched An An enter kindergarten, then returned home and meticulously cleaned his room before leaving the courtyard gate open.
• Zhao Zicheng followed Zhao Dabao openly, while Sun Wen explained that the Light Group could not arrest him without evidence and ordered an investigation into the village.
• Sun Wen learned that Zhao Dabao had slaughtered an entire village to prevent anyone from testifying against him.
• Zhao Zicheng grabbed Zhao Dabao by the collar in a stationery shop, but Zhao Dabao acted frightened and appealed to the bystanders’ sympathy.
• Zhao Dabao quietly told Zhao Zicheng that killing him would ruin the Light Group’s credibility, then suggested that nobody knew Zhao Zicheng was with the Light Group.

Zhao Zicheng and Sun Wen realized Zong Ren was stalling while they watched him near his alley, where a kindergarten made a forceful arrest too risky. Sun Wen deduced Zong Ren was waiting to pick up his daughter at four and mobilized Er City’s forces to search the area while Mu Yu kept watch.

• Zhao Dabao fled the stationery shop after warning Zhao Zicheng about the cost of losing their bet, while Zhao Zicheng refrained from arresting the onlookers.
• Zhao Zicheng told Sun Wen that Zong Ren seemed unafraid and was stalling, and Mu Yu reported that he had returned to an alley crowded with neighbors and near a kindergarten.
• Sun Wen ordered the team to keep watching Zong Ren and said he would block his phone signal and freeze his bank cards.
• Sun Wen suspected Zong Ren was waiting to pick up his daughter when the kindergarten let out at four, two hours later.
• Sun Wen sent Zhao Zicheng, Xiao Xiao, and A Tai to lead teams searching around the alley, ordered Mu Yu to continue watching Zong Ren, and kept Li Zi and Qi Tian outside the city as a possible surprise force.
• Sun Wen warned that the Evil Cult might still have active forces in Er City and launched the operation, bringing the city’s forces into action.

Zong Ren used an explosion and an attack on civilians to force Mu Yu to choose between arresting him and saving lives. He escaped with An An after killing her teacher, leaving her unaware that the blood on her face was not water.

• Zong Ren deduced that Sun Wen would wait two hours before acting, then signaled Mu Yu just before an explosion rocked a factory in the east of Er City.
• Sun Wen ordered Mu Yu to arrest Zong Ren and use force if necessary, while Mu Yu crossed the road to confront him.
• Zong Ren's disguised followers attacked pedestrians, and Mu Yu ran off to save the civilians instead of arresting him.
• Zong Ren entered the kindergarten, told the teacher he was taking An An home, and put earplugs in An An's ears.
• Zong Ren locked the other children inside and killed the teacher before leaving with An An on his shoulders, telling her the blood on her face was water.

Zong Ren used riots and timed explosions to keep Er City's defenders occupied as he crossed the city, while Sun Wen realized he had been outmaneuvered. Sun Wen drove to the east gate to confront Zong Ren alone, armed with a grenade, a pistol, and a dagger, and Zong Ren asked him to step aside.

• Mu Yu and Zhao Zicheng struggled to contain the riots and protect civilians while intercepting Zong Ren.
• Zong Ren detonated explosives around Er City, repeatedly delaying the Guard Bureau as he made his way toward the city center.
• Zong Ren revealed that he had accounted for Er City's hidden Sixth Awakening fighter, who had been tied up, and Sun Wen recognized that Zong Ren had controlled their contest.
• Sun Wen asked Mu Yu, Zhao Zicheng, Xiao Xiao, and A Tai how long they needed, then set off alone for the east gate to confront Zong Ren.
• Sun Wen prepared a grenade rigged to explode if he pulled its cord, along with a pistol and dagger, and waited for Zong Ren to arrive.
• Zong Ren found Sun Wen at the east gate, admitted he had not expected him to stand in his way, and urged him to step aside.

Zong Ren defeated Sun Wen despite his healing support ability and drove away with An An, leaving Sun Wen crushed by the encounter. As Sun Wen reflected on his failure, the bloodied Mu Yu appeared nearby.

• Sun Wen challenged Zong Ren to gamble with their lives, but Zong Ren charged him and knocked him down with a burst of speed.
• Sun Wen healed himself with his Gold Yuanbao and tried to shield himself with energy, but Zong Ren broke through and seized him by the throat.
• Zong Ren took Sun Wen’s car keys, dismissed his accusations, and drove away with An An despite Sun Wen threatening him with a grenade.
• Sun Wen collapsed and lamented his weakness as Mu Yu, covered in blood and radiating murderous intent, came into view.