Chapter Summaries

Qiguan Yuan teased Pei Yubai by giving him a close, hands-on sword lesson, while realizing Pei Yubai already knew how to use a sword. After returning to the tree to lounge, Qiguan Yuan reflected on the sword dance Yun Yin had created for him and suspected Pei Yubai still retained unconscious habits from his former self.

• Qiguan Yuan took a prop sword and performed a sword dance for Pei Yubai, drawing the attention of the martial arts instructor, crew, and livestream viewers.
• Qiguan Yuan guided Pei Yubai's hands through the sword movements and invited him to take the sword, but Song Yuan called them back to work before Pei Yubai could respond.
• Qiguan Yuan returned the sword to the prop rack, and Shen Yuzhou asked Pei Yubai whether he had learned the technique; Pei Yubai admitted to himself that he already knew swordplay and had focused on Qiguan Yuan instead.
• Ji Shiyu accepted a tissue from Jiang Wantang and secretly tucked it into his pocket, while Pei Yubai arranged refreshments for Qiguan Yuan before returning to discuss the script with Song Yuan.
• Qiguan Yuan leaped into the camphor tree and lounged on a branch, then recalled that Yun Yin had created his sword technique specifically for him and recognized Pei Yubai's lingering unconscious habits.

Qiguan Yuan and Xiu Yun Yin were born beneath the Tree of Fate and grew close as Xiu Yun Yin helped him with his duties and cared for him. When the Tree of Fate condemned Qiguan Yuan’s love as an ill-fated bond, Xiu Yun Yin took its punishment and vanished, leaving Qiguan Yuan to search for him and preserve his memory.

• Qiguan Yuan emerged from the Tree of Fate, tied a red cord around Xiu Yun Yin’s wrist, and named him.
• Qiguan Yuan repeatedly mishandled his duties as Yue Lao, while Xiu Yun Yin patiently helped him and cared for him.
• Qiguan Yuan and Xiu Yun Yin shared warm osmanthus wine, teased each other, and spent many years together.
• The Tree of Fate condemned Qiguan Yuan’s feelings for Xiu Yun Yin as an ill-fated bond and sent black mist to punish him.
• Xiu Yun Yin shielded Qiguan Yuan from the black mist, revealed that he would bear the bonds Qiguan Yuan tied, and dissolved into motes of light.
• Qiguan Yuan left the Heavenly Realm, transplanted the Tree of Fate to the mortal world, and continued searching for Xiu Yun Yin while preserving his wine and memories.

Qiguan Yuan visited Chenchen before his kidney surgery and tied a red cord around his wrist. When Chenchen’s condition became critical during the operation, the cord drew him away from his dead parents in a misty vision, and the surgery succeeded.

• Qiguan Yuan fell asleep in a tree, then Pei Yubai caught him when he flipped down and agreed to take him to Chenchen’s surgery.
• Qiguan Yuan passed a sobbing woman named Yanyan at the hospital, where she soon learned that Xiaohai had a matching kidney donor.
• Qiguan Yuan visited Chenchen, accepted his drawing, and tied a red cord around his wrist before the nurse took him to surgery.
• Chenchen’s heart rate and blood pressure plunged during the operation, and medication failed to stop them from falling.
• In a misty vision, Chenchen met his dead parents, but the red cord tugged him back toward Qiguan Yuan.
• Chenchen’s vital signs recovered, and the lead surgeon completed the operation successfully.

Chenchen’s successful surgery brought Qiguan Yuan together with Pei Yubai’s parents, who had come to visit and were considering whether to adopt the child. Their meeting was interrupted by Meng Xu, who also arrived to check on Chenchen.

• After Chenchen’s successful surgery, Pei Yubai asked his assistant to meet Shen Lingyi and Pei Zhongkang, and Qiguan Yuan went along.
• Shen Lingyi and Pei Zhongkang discussed adopting Chenchen but worried about the risks to Pei Yubai, so they had not decided.
• Shen Lingyi greeted Qiguan Yuan warmly when she saw him at the hospital entrance, and he kept the gathering crowd at a distance.
• Meng Xu arrived to visit Chenchen, saying he had come ahead of Pei Yubai while the assistant director watched over the production.

Pei Yubai’s family and Meng Xu settled who would care for Chenchen, with Meng Xu agreeing to adopt him after his father relented. Pei Yubai became Chenchen’s godfather, and the Pei family bought the hospital where Chenchen was recovering, making it his first asset.

• Pei Yubai arrived at the hospital and learned that Meng Xu wanted to adopt Chenchen, though Meng Xu’s father initially opposed the plan.
• Qiguan Yuan noticed Chenchen’s thread of familial affection leaning toward Meng Xu and decided not to interfere with the match.
• Pei Zhongkang persuaded Meng Xu’s father to allow the adoption, and Meng Xu began preparing the documents.
• Shen Lingyi proposed making Pei Yubai Chenchen’s godfather, and Meng Xu supported the arrangement.
• Pei Zhongkang and Shen Lingyi told the hospital director they would buy the hospital and place it under Chenchen’s name.

Chenchen recovered in the hospital and accepted Meng Xu as his dad while Qiguan Yuan said goodbye to Pei Yubai and returned to Cloud-Hidden Town. There, Lu Zhao asked him to gather faith in the northwest to help restore Senior Moon Official’s dissipated divine essence, while a fan’s story about a protective red cord pushed Qiguan Yuan back onto the trending list.

• Chenchen met Meng Xu, Shen Lingyi, and Pei Zhongkang in the hospital, and called Meng Xu “Dad” after asking him to be his father.
• Qiguan Yuan said goodbye to Chenchen, then kissed Pei Yubai and promised to grant his wish not to be apart so long.
• Qiguan Yuan returned to Cloud-Hidden Town, where Lu Zhao asked him to gather power of faith in the northwest to strengthen Lu Zhao’s divine essence for restoring Senior Moon Official’s soul.
• Qiguan Yuan agreed to go in a few days and took over tying marriage threads so Lu Zhao could leave early.
• A male fan posted that his red cord snapped during a near-fatal car accident and believed Qiguan Yuan’s blessing had protected him.
• The fan’s post trended, renewed public speculation about Qiguan Yuan, and drew more viewers to “Travel to That Unknown Place.”

Qiguan Yuan’s red cords and his appearance on Travel to Those Little-Known Places fueled his popularity, while Pei Yubai hurried to finish filming so he could see him. After Pei Yubai wrapped, Meng Xu prepared a special episode centered on Qiguan Yuan and posted its promotional poster.

• Brands tried to reach Qiguan Yuan through Pei Yubai and his acquaintances, but they were told he had no plans to accept endorsements.
• Stories of good fortune from people with Qiguan Yuan’s red cords spread online, and fans began bidding for the few cords in circulation.
• Lin Xiao watched the second episode of Travel to Those Little-Known Places, became captivated by Qiguan Yuan, and followed him on Weibo.
• Qiguan Yuan surpassed Pei Yubai in popularity as some Imperial Fans switched their attention to him.
• Pei Yubai persuaded Song Yuan to move up his remaining scenes and wrapped filming after a late-night final shoot.
• Meng Xu showed Pei Yubai a poster for a Yue Lao-themed special episode, and Qiguan Yuan agreed to take part; Meng Xu then posted the poster on the show's official Weibo account.

Meng Xu released a poster announcing Qiguan Yuan would appear throughout the next episode of “Travel to Those Little-Known Places,” sparking excitement among fans. After an artist publicly provoked him, Meng Xu and the Pei and Shen families’ companies helped blacklist the artist and end his endorsements, then Meng Xu returned to preparing the show.

• Meng Xu posted the new variety-show poster, and fans celebrated Qiguan Yuan’s full-episode appearance as the announcement dominated trending searches.
• The production team kept its original guests and had delayed filming while Pei Yubai and Ji Shiyu’s schedules were unavailable.
• An artist accused Meng Xu of using capital to suppress people, so Meng Xu warned him to wait.
• Meng Xu tagged more than a dozen brands, which announced they would blacklist the artist from future collaborations.
• Pei Yubai tagged the Huateng Group, and Shen Yuzhou tagged the Shen Group; the groups and dozens of brands backed the blacklist, while the artist’s endorsements were terminated.
• Meng Xu called the action an example of capital suppression and returned to working on the variety show.

Meng Xu and the guests began filming the fourth installment and traveled to Cloud-Hidden Town to find Teacher Qiguan's home. Pei Yubai led them through the woods, and the sound of wind chimes signaled that they had nearly arrived.

• Meng Xu greeted the livestream viewers and teased Pei Yubai as the guests gathered on the bus.
• Pei Yubai opened a livestream to chat with fans and admitted he was thinking about Yuanyuan.
• Shen Yuzhou, Cheng Yanqiu, Lin Yanru, Su He'an, Ji Shiyu, and Jiang Wantang boarded the bus, and Meng Xu set off for Cloud-Hidden Town.
• At the town, Meng Xu told the guests to find Teacher Qiguan's home themselves, so Pei Yubai led them into the woods through the drizzle.
• The group followed Pei Yubai along the forest path until they heard brass wind chimes, and Shen Yuzhou realized they were close.

Pei Yubai followed the red thread into the rainy woods and found Qiguan Yuan gathering wine-starter flowers. They returned to the wooden house together, where the other guests greeted Qiguan Yuan.

• Pei Yubai discovered that the red thread led away from the wooden house and followed it into the bamboo grove.
• Pei Yubai found Qiguan Yuan picking wild herbs and wine-starter flowers among the rocks.
• Pei Yubai and Qiguan Yuan reunited, exchanged how much they had missed each other, and walked back together beneath an umbrella.
• Qiguan Yuan dried Pei Yubai’s wet shoulder and explained that he had gone out to gather flowers for making wine.
• Pei Yubai and Qiguan Yuan returned to the wooden house, and Meng Xu teased Pei Yubai for bringing Yuanyuan back.

Qiguan Yuan welcomed the guests to his secluded home and led them in making sweet rice wine from wine-starter flowers. Pei Yubai secretly prepared mulberry wine for Qiguan Yuan, who accepted the gesture warmly.

• Qiguan Yuan showed the guests his home, and they chose rooms while the cameras filmed the rain-soaked courtyard.
• Qiguan Yuan told Meng Xu that he would stay through the Dragon Boat Festival before setting off on a long journey, and Meng Xu agreed to follow his plans.
• Qiguan Yuan reflected on the solitude he had grown accustomed to and compared the Tree of Fate in the rain to an old friend, while Pei Yubai wondered about Yun Yin.
• Qiguan Yuan invited the guests to help make sweet rice wine from wine-starter flowers, and they gathered around the table to prepare it.
• Pei Yubai washed wild mulberries and layered them with rock sugar in a jar to make wine for Qiguan Yuan, who found him and accepted the gift.

Qiguan Yuan and the guests prepared wine-herb rice wine and shared a meal while rain fell, then Qiguan Yuan drank from an old jar and grew tipsy. He and Pei Yubai exchanged intimate kisses and wrote each other’s names on their skin before Qiguan Yuan fell asleep.

• Qiguan Yuan guided Shen Yuzhou and the guests in preparing wine-herb rice for fermentation, explaining that it would be ready in three days.
• Qiguan Yuan dug up an old wine jar as the guests prepared dinner, and Ji Shiyu chased them out of the kitchen when they got in his way.
• The guests ate together while Qiguan Yuan drank alone by the window, and Pei Yubai sat beside him to keep him company.
• After the guests dispersed, Qiguan Yuan became tipsy and let Pei Yubai kiss him, then wrote three characters on Pei Yubai’s chest with ink.
• Qiguan Yuan gave Pei Yubai permission to write on him, and Pei Yubai wrote his own name on Qiguan Yuan’s chest.
• Qiguan Yuan led Pei Yubai to his bedroom and fell asleep, while Pei Yubai tucked him in and washed without disturbing the ink on his chest.

Pei Yubai cared for Qiguan Yuan after he got drunk, then learned to make hangover soup while the crew livestreamed the morning. Qiguan Yuan showed the guests his astonishing storeroom and treated their mosquito bites, and the group later gathered mugwort and bamboo leaves for crafts and zongzi.

• Pei Yubai woke beside Qiguan Yuan, noticed his twitching ears, and went to make him hangover soup with Ji Shiyu.
• Ji Shiyu helped Pei Yubai prepare the soup, and Meng Xu arranged for the crew to livestream them cooking.
• Qiguan Yuan drank the soup and ate some congee with the guests, then led the people bitten by mosquitoes to his storeroom and handed out medicinal ointment.
• The guests were stunned by the storeroom's collection of antiques and valuables, while Shen Yuzhou recognized a potentially unique scroll.
• Qiguan Yuan took the group to gather mugwort and broadleaf bamboo leaves, then the guests made mugwort sticks and zongzi while Qiguan Yuan prepared more ointment.

The guests made zongzi and moxa smoke together before Qiguan Yuan told Pei Yubai that he planned to travel to the northwest after the Dragon Boat Festival, with Pei Yubai accompanying him. After viewers noticed the valuable antiques in Qiguan Yuan’s storeroom, he explained that they had been offered to Yue Lao temples he owned; the chapter ended with the group preparing to leave for a Yue Lao Temple after breakfast.

• Ji Shiyu served sweet and savory zongzi, and Qiguan Yuan sat with Pei Yubai while they ate.
• Shen Yuzhou and Cheng Yanqiu used moxa smoke to repel mosquitoes, then Qiguan Yuan told Pei Yubai about his planned trip to the northwest to help someone important to him.
• Viewers identified the apparent value of items in Qiguan Yuan’s storeroom, and Qiguan Yuan explained that worshippers had given them to Yue Lao temples he owned.
• Qiguan Yuan ground valuable medicinal ingredients for amusement and offered them to Pei Yubai, who arranged for Pei Zhongkang to prepare provenance documents for Qiguan Yuan’s possessions.
• Qiguan Yuan said he needed to see Jixian at a Yue Lao Temple, and the next morning he told the group to set out after breakfast.

Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai visited Yue Lao Temple with the other guests, where Qiguan Yuan prepared marriage lots before they left for the village. On the bus, Qiguan Yuan discovered a trending story about himself and Pei Yubai, and Lin Yanru realized she had written it.

• As the guests walked to Yue Lao Temple, Qiguan Yuan recalled recognizing Pei Yubai as Xiu Yun Yin and hiding their past because Pei Yubai had lost his memories.
• Qiguan Yuan offered Shen Yuzhou and Cheng Yanqiu red threads, but Pei Yubai took them and said he only wanted Qiguan Yuan.
• At Yue Lao Temple, Qiguan Yuan asked Jixian for marriage lots to take on a trip to the northwest, where the power of marriage was weak.
• Qiguan Yuan read a marriage lot wishing happiness for himself and Pei Yubai, and Pei Yubai said they should thank the lot properly.
• On the bus, Qiguan Yuan opened a trending story describing an intimate encounter between himself and Pei Yubai, and Lin Yanru recognized it as something she had written.

Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai teased each other over a fanfiction story while Meng Xu arranged a new route to the northwest for the variety show. The group prepared to travel along the Silk Road, with the guests given limited funds to buy desert supplies.

• Qiguan Yuan read a fanfiction story about himself and Pei Yubai, then flirted with Pei Yubai about learning from it; the cameraman switched off the camera and backed away.
• Meng Xu asked Qiguan Yuan where he planned to go, and Qiguan Yuan said he was heading to the northwest to handle some matters and see Dunhuang culture.
• Pei Yubai told Meng Xu they would not have enough time to catch their booked flight if they needed to prepare before leaving.
• Meng Xu decided to arrange a private plane and have the group travel by road along the Silk Road, planning filming tasks for the journey.
• Meng Xu gave the guests 1,500 yuan each for basic desert supplies and said extra funds would need to be earned; he also offered to reimburse sanitary products.
• The guests began considering what to buy, and Qiguan Yuan accepted the money Pei Yubai handed him without checking its amount.

Qiguan Yuan sold red threads at a market to raise money for supplies and snacks, while Pei Yubai stayed close and indulged his tastes. After the other guests returned, they noticed Pei Yubai had bought eight large bags of snacks, and Qiguan Yuan offered Shen Yuzhou some chocolate.

• Qiguan Yuan set up his red threads for sale because the money Meng Xu had given them was not enough, and Pei Yubai watched over him.
• Two pairs of young women bought red threads, and one fan took a photo with Qiguan Yuan.
• Qiguan Yuan sold all the red threads in under half an hour, then reassured Pei Yubai when he showed jealousy over the fan.
• Pei Yubai held Qiguan Yuan's hand as they bought outdoor supplies and a large assortment of snacks that caught Qiguan Yuan's interest.
• The guests returned and noticed Pei Yubai's eight bags of snacks, and Qiguan Yuan shared chocolate with Pei Yubai and offered some to Shen Yuzhou.

The guests prepared their supplies and set off for the first stop, while Qiguan Yuan fed Pei Yubai chocolate and Shen Yuzhou discussed relationships with Cheng Yanqiu. The group reached the airport and boarded a plane together.

• Shen Yuzhou refused Qiguan Yuan's chocolate because he was watching his diet, so Qiguan Yuan fed a piece to Pei Yubai instead.
• Shen Yuzhou told Cheng Yanqiu he might need a partner, and Cheng Yanqiu explained why she had no room for a relationship in her plans.
• The guests checked their supplies, and Meng Xu told them to load up and leave.
• The guests rode a minibus to the airport, where Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai boarded the plane together.

Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai arrived in Dunhuang with the other guests, settled into their guesthouse, and explored Dunhuang Night Market. Their outing was interrupted when a clothing shop owner recognized them and called out.

• Qiguan Yuan experienced his first plane ride before he and the other guests arrived at Sandbar Cottage.
• The guests settled into their rooms, and Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai chose a room together.
• The group ate a northwestern-style dinner, and Pei Yubai ate the lamb Qiguan Yuan left in his bowl.
• Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai visited Dunhuang Night Market, where Qiguan Yuan tried an apricot peel drink and bought a blank wooden tag.
• A voice from a clothing shop called out to Qiguan Yuan and Film Emperor Pei.

Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai met a fan who asked them to wear matching Dunhuang-style outfits she had designed, and they promised to return in two days. The group traveled to Crescent Spring, where Qiguan Yuan’s view of the dunes stirred memories of Yun Yin and their past together.

• A young fan recognized Pei Yubai and Qiguan Yuan outside her clothing shop, got their autographs, and asked them to wear her matching outfits.
• Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai agreed to return in two days, and the fan excitedly posted about meeting them before getting back to sewing.
• The guests traveled to Mingsha Mountain, where Qiguan Yuan used a spell to make walking across the sand easier for himself and Pei Yubai.
• The group rode camels to Crescent Spring, where the guests cooled off and the production team prepared to film.
• As evening fell, Qiguan Yuan stood atop a dune and remembered coming there with Yun Yin, who no longer remembered him.