Chapter Summaries

Qin Xun joined Song Jie’s group after eating dirt as a prank, then went with Glasses to sneak into Zone 96 and scout the city. At the gate, Chen Qiao and Sisi also entered after Sisi charmed a Guard Team member into letting them pass.

• Song Jie tricked Qin Xun into eating dirt as an initiation prank, then agreed to let him and Glasses scout the city while she watched the gate.
• Qin Xun asked Song Jie to care for Qin Ling, and Song Jie assured him that Qin Ling was family to her too.
• Qin Xun and Glasses disguised themselves, hid beneath a tarp in a caravan truck, and entered the city without inspection.
• The Guard Team stopped Chen Qiao and Sisi’s pickup and demanded to search them despite Chen Qiao offering money.
• Sisi wiped the bulbous-nosed Guard Team member’s face with a handkerchief and charmed him into letting the pickup enter the city.

Black Crow searched Zone 96’s surveillance footage and learned that Qin Xun and his companions had already left the city, so he focused his hunt on the dog owner. The chapter then described the civilian district’s jobs and hardships, including how Qin Xun and Qin Ling had been raised and supported.

• Black Crow found footage of Qin Xun, Qin Ling, Smoker, Glasses, and Song Jie leaving Zone 96, and concluded that they were too far away to pursue directly.
• Black Crow asked District Chief Zhang for command of the Guard Team, then ordered guards to watch the noble district and city exits while the remaining forces searched the civilian district for the dog owner.
• The chapter described the civilian district’s trades, from street vending and factory work to monster hunting, and contrasted its basic amenities with those of the noble district.
• Qin Xun’s parents had worked for nobles before they died, and Qin Ashui had cared for Qin Xun and Qin Ling until he disappeared when Qin Xun was twelve.
• Qin Xun took a restaurant job introduced by A-Liang, where the owner let him bring Qin Ling and share meals.

Qin Xun and Glasses learned that the Dark Pavilion had fought the wanted criminals in Zone 96 and that Smoker had been captured. After killing two Guard Team members, they left the surviving guards unable to reveal more about rescuing him.

• Glasses led Qin Xun to a massage parlor where Guard Team members were posting a wanted notice for Xu Chao, who was injured and accompanied by a little girl and a black dog.
• Qin Xun and Glasses followed two Guard Team members into a deserted alley, where Glasses killed one and restrained the other.
• The surviving guard said three Dark Pavilion members had come to Zone 96 and fought the wanted criminals.
• The guard revealed that Li Xie and his wife were dead, Smoker had been captured, and Xu Chao had escaped with Li Xie's daughter.
• Qin Xun recognized the Dark Pavilion captain as the man who had captured them in Zone 108, and Glasses killed the surviving guard after learning Smoker was held in the Guard Team building.

Qin Xun and Glasses searched Zone 96 for the injured Xu Chao, hoping to find him before the Guard Team did. Qin Xun found Xu Chao and Mengmeng hidden behind a trash heap, then learned about Xu Chao’s ridiculous initiation into the group.

• Qin Xun and Glasses split up to search for Xu Chao and agreed to meet at the clock tower in four hours.
• Qin Xun searched the residential districts while avoiding patrol officers and Guard Team members.
• Mengmeng emerged from a trash heap, recognized Qin Xun, and led him to Xu Chao and an unconscious little girl hiding nearby.
• Qin Xun checked Xu Chao’s severe injuries and said he had come to rescue him because Xu Chao and his dog had once saved him.
• Xu Chao asked about Qin Xun’s initiation, then recounted how the group had tricked him into drinking laxatives and abandoned him in a lake.

Qin Xun went to find medicine for the wounded Xu Chao, but discovered Guard Team members searching the alley where Xu Chao and Mengmeng were hiding. He killed all eight guards in seconds and returned as Xu Chao watched in awe.

• Xu Chao told Qin Xun that Smoker had been captured and that he might not survive his injuries, but agreed to wait while Qin Xun tried to get medicine.
• Xu Chao told Qin Xun that the man who wounded him claimed to have killed Dazhuang, though Xu Chao did not know if it was true.
• Qin Xun bought medicine, alcohol, bandages, and a needle and thread from an old pharmacist.
• Qin Xun encountered eight armed Guard Team members at the alley and killed them all with daggers and darts.
• Xu Chao watched Qin Xun return and asked him to teach him how to throw blades.