Chapter Summaries

Eldest Young Master Shen brought Seventh Young Lady Shen to meet the banyan the Shen Family secretly sheltered, and she asked it to investigate the Lou Family’s improved grain seeds. The banyan agreed, and Seventh Young Lady Shen placed the seeds before it.

• Eldest Young Master Shen and Seventh Young Lady Shen entered the guarded greenhouse after the banyan opened its door.
• The banyan welcomed Seventh Young Lady Shen with an aerial-root tiger and comforted Eldest Young Master Shen with a gentle pat.
• The banyan wrote to ask why they had come, and the siblings recalled how it had gained its memories and learned human writing.
• Seventh Young Lady Shen explained the unusual qualities of the Lou Family’s seeds and asked the banyan to examine them.
• The banyan nodded, and Seventh Young Lady Shen opened the box of seeds and set it on the table.

The Banyan Tree reacted violently to the grain seeds Eldest Young Master Shen and Seventh Young Lady Shen brought, sensing that they contained a powerful substance and urging the Shen Family to find their true owner. Meanwhile, Tao Qiu took the cubs toward the valley while Lou Yu stayed behind at Yong'an Base for work.

• The Banyan Tree crushed the seeds, demanded to know where they came from, and learned that the Lou Family sold both the grain and seeds.
• The Banyan Tree apologized for frightening the siblings and said the seeds could give the Shen Family the power to control the world, then ordered them to find the seeds' true owner.
• Eldest Young Master Shen and Seventh Young Lady Shen told Shen Family Head what happened, and he rewarded them and gave Eldest Young Master Shen the investigation.
• Eldest Young Master Shen began investigating the source of the Lou Family's seeds with Seventh Young Lady Shen.
• Tao Qiu and the three cubs comforted Lou Yu, who was staying at work, before Tao Qiu drove them out of Yong'an Base.

Tao Qiu learned that Green Python had contracted the same fatal illness that killed her mother, and promised to care for Little Snake if Green Python died. He wondered whether his energy-infused crops might slow the disease and began treating the valley’s crops with his ability.

• Tao Qiu secretly drove the three cubs to the valley, where they visited Black Rabbit and later played with Little Snake.
• Green Python told Tao Qiu that she had suffered three attacks and believed she had the strange disease that killed her mother.
• Green Python asked Tao Qiu to look after Little Snake if the illness became unbearable, and Tao Qiu promised he would.
• After Green Python and Little Snake left, Tao Qiu considered whether his crops might suppress the disease and prolong Green Python’s life.
• Tao Qiu infused the valley’s crops with his ability, then took the cubs on patrols and made them a meal.

Tao Qiu discovered that Little Snake had persuaded Green Python to eat crops, which had helped keep Green Python alive, and agreed to provide more so she could live longer. Meanwhile, the Shen Family uncovered the true source of the grain seeds, confirming the Banyan Tree's suspicion that the Lou Family had not bred them.

• Green Python told Tao Qiu that Little Snake had urged her to eat the crops and had risked hunting to obtain them for her.
• Tao Qiu explained that Little Snake's love for her mother had helped save Green Python from her illness, then warned that the crops might prolong her life without easing her painful attacks.
• Green Python chose to keep eating crops so she could live longer with Little Snake, and Tao Qiu promised to give her more.
• Tao Qiu returned to the base with the cubs, shared their prey with Lou Yu, and later told him about Green Python and his plan to grow more crops for her.
• Tao Qiu planted more crops in the valley, while Little Snake happily offered to catch prey so Green Python could trade for as much as she wanted.
• After two months of investigation, the Shen Family discovered the true source of the seeds and confirmed that the Lou Family had not bred the grain seeds.

The Shen Family traced the banyan tree’s seeds to Yong'an Base and suspected Tao Qiu’s identity records were false, but Eldest Young Master Shen could not uncover Tao Qiu’s past. After hearing about Lou Yu, the banyan tree formed a plan and set the Shen Family Head’s next moves in motion, leaving the family’s upper ranks wondering what it intended.

• Eldest Young Master Shen reported that the seeds came from Yong'an Base and argued that Tao Qiu’s Yongkang Base identity was probably fabricated.
• The Shen Family Head pressured Eldest Young Master Shen to keep investigating and threatened to hand the work to Second Young Master Shen, deepening Eldest Young Master Shen’s resentment.
• Eldest Young Master Shen told the banyan tree what he knew about Lou Yu, including Lou Yu’s ties to Snow Bird and the delayed stabilization of his abilities.
• The banyan tree told Eldest Young Master Shen to stop investigating and follow its plan, assuring him that the Shen Family Head would not replace him.
• The Shen Family Head arranged for three of the Shen Family’s strongest ability users to transport a box and announced that the banyan tree would be left undisturbed while it recuperated.

Root studied Tao Qiu and decided to infiltrate Yong'an Base, believing it could exploit divisions among the humans to get close to him. Meanwhile, Tao Qiu and Lou Yu prepared the cubs for school, and the chapter ended with Lou Yu hinting that he wanted to be intimate after a month of Tao Qiu’s winter sleepiness.

• Tao Qiu and Lou Yu decided to enroll the three cubs in school, and the children agreed to try it.
• The cubs passed upper-elementary tests and joined Bai Huan’s class as transfer students.
• Root observed Tao Qiu, assessed his strength and allies, and concluded that a direct attack would be too risky.
• Root decided to infiltrate Yong'an Base and exploit possible conflicts among its humans.
• Tao Qiu spent winter days sleeping while the energetic cubs went skating with trusted adults.
• After the cubs fell asleep, Lou Yu cuddled Tao Qiu on the sofa and complained that they had gone nearly a month without intimacy.

Tao Qiu sensed the same mysterious watcher after the spring monster tide, prompting Lou Yu and Lou Quan to strengthen security around Yong'an Base. As the three cubs began school, the family settled into their new routine, unaware that Root had discovered the base’s hidden ability users and marked it as a source of chaos.

• Root infiltrated Yong'an Base during the spring battle, saw its ability users, and followed Lou Yu home to watch Tao Qiu and the cubs reunite with him.
• Tao Qiu sensed a watcher nearby, but it vanished before he could find it; Lou Yu reported the incident to Lou Quan, who increased searches and patrols.
• After the monster tide receded without the culprit being found, Lou Yu took a security post at the school while the three cubs started classes.
• Tao Qiu visited the cafeteria to check on the cubs and met Lou Yu, who was patrolling in disguise.
• At dinner, the cubs told Tao Qiu and Lou Yu they had recognized both of them at school and were enjoying their first day.

Tao Qiu investigated reports of mutant monsters fleeing into his territory and learned that the powerful mutant monster in the lake had gone mad and died. After checking that his valley and the base were safe, he returned to report the situation to Lou Quan, while the lake’s changed appearance left its future uncertain.

• Lou Yu told Tao Qiu that invading mutant monsters had clashed with local ones, and Tao Qiu went to investigate after Lou Quan asked him to assess the danger to humans.
• Green Python and Black Rabbit explained that the mutant monster in the lake had contracted the strange disease, killed the lake’s other monsters, and driven creatures across the region as it rampaged.
• Black Rabbit urged Tao Qiu not to approach the lake, so Tao Qiu checked on the mountain foxes and guarded his valley’s crops instead.
• Tao Qiu spent the night in the valley, drove away several thin, unfamiliar mutant monsters, and found fewer intruders the next day.
• Tao Qiu returned to the base after asking Green Python and Black Rabbit to watch the valley, then told Lou Quan about the situation and the murky lake.

The root tendrils planned to kill Tao Qiu and exploit Yong'an Base’s secrets to turn humans against him and the Snow Birds. They manipulated a disgruntled man into believing his second personality would help destroy Lou Yu’s reputation.

• Lou Quan agreed to trade Yongkang Base special crop seeds for the remains of the dead mutated monster, and Tao Qiu and the root tendrils saw its corpse in photos.
• The root tendrils remembered the lake monster’s death and resolved to kill Tao Qiu and devour him before their own illness overcame them.
• The root tendrils explored Yong'an Base, discovered the Awakening Reagent research and the awakening benefits of Tao Qiu’s crops, and identified ways to provoke conflict over the Snow Birds’ identities.
• A root tendril visited a vagrant who blamed Lou Yu for his misfortunes and had spread rumors about him, then knocked him unconscious and wrote in his notebook as his supposed second personality.

The man relied on his second personality, which secretly cared for him and supplied him with evidence that Tao Qiu and the children were mutant monsters in disguise. Lou Quan explained why he withheld special crops from Central Base’s ability users and defective products; the chapter ended as the man confronted Lou Yu’s family outside a restaurant.

• The man recalled how his second personality had treated his injuries, brought him supplies, and comforted him through notes in a notebook.
• A root entered the man’s room at night, left something on the table, and wrote that it was time.
• Lou Quan told Lou Yu that Central Base’s powerful families had hoarded the special crops, leaving ability users and defective products without their benefits.
• Tao Qiu treated Lou Yu and the children to a restaurant meal after receiving a bonus from Lou Quan.
• The man hurried to the restaurant, intending to expose Tao Qiu and the children as mutant monsters, and waited outside for Lou Yu’s family to emerge.
• The man shouted Lou Yu’s name in the street; Lou Yu moved to subdue him while Tao Qiu shielded the children, but the man stopped among the crowd without approaching.

A man exposed photos of Tao Qiu and the cubs in their mutated forms, provoking panic in the base, but Tao Qiu revealed himself as the snow bird and calmed the crowd. Lou Quan took the man away for interrogation, while Tao Qiu suspected someone unseen had been spying on them and arranged the exposure.

• A man scattered photos of Tao Qiu and the cubs as mutated snow birds and accused them of being dangerous monsters.
• Lou Yu restrained the man as the crowd panicked, and Tao Qiu used his avian pressure to silence everyone.
• Tao Qiu defended himself and the cubs, then unfurled his wings and flew to prove he was the snow bird.
• Lou Quan arrived with a security team, and Tao Qiu told him he suspected an unseen spy had supplied the photos.
• Lou Quan ordered the man taken for interrogation and sent people to investigate his home.

Root had prepared multiple schemes to target Tao Qiu, recruiting people in Yong'an Base and secretly digging a tunnel outside. After months of observing Tao Qiu, Root recognized how well he had blended into human society.

• Root had brainwashed several people who already harbored hatred toward Tao Qiu, Lou Yu, or the base.
• Root had investigated the base, taken photos while avoiding its detectors, and dug a tunnel to the outside.
• Root had concealed itself underground and placed a camera aboveground to photograph Tao Qiu without meeting his gaze.
• Root had observed Tao Qiu for months and concluded that he fit into human society exceptionally well.

Root exposed Tao Qiu’s identity and the benefits of his crops to the Central Base’s major families, then arranged an ambush as they closed in on Yong'an Base. Lou Yu’s family fled toward the side gate, where an attack flipped their car, but Tao Qiu shielded the children and their companions from harm.

• Root persuaded the Shen, Bai, Zheng, and Lou Families to come to Yong'an Base by promising them access to Tao Qiu and his special crops.
• Lou Quan learned that helicopters were approaching and the major families were on their way, so he stayed behind to stall them while Lou Yu and Tao Qiu escaped with the cubs.
• Huo Lan and soldiers escorted Tao Qiu’s family toward the side gate in a convoy, while Lou Yu rode with them.
• At an intersection, armed men blocked the convoy, and Lou Yu realized their attack was likely a distraction.
• A hidden force flipped the car carrying Tao Qiu’s family, but Tao Qiu transformed into a bird and shielded everyone beneath his wings.

Tao Qiu and Lou Yu fought Root as the Central Base forces arrived, but Root abducted Third Cub and escaped underground. Tao Qiu learned Root had taken her to the Central Base and prepared to go there, while Lou Quan explained that the base had been forced to let the helicopters in.

• Tao Qiu sensed danger, ordered everyone out of the car, and then fought Root when it revealed itself and trapped him in a net of roots.
• Lou Yu and the soldiers attacked Root while Tao Qiu held it aboveground, but Root severed its roots and tried to retreat underground.
• After the Central Base helicopters arrived, Tao Qiu told Lou Yu to take the children and leave, but Root opened the ground beneath Third Cub and abducted her.
• Tao Qiu tried to chase Root, but Lou Yu restrained him, and Root announced that Tao Qiu must come to the Central Base if he wanted Third Cub to live.
• Lou Quan arrived with the Central Base forces and explained that they had threatened the base with bombs, while Tao Qiu transformed into a human and said they had to go to the Central Base.

Lou Quan, Lou Yu, Tao Qiu, and the cubs faced representatives of the Shen, Bai, and Zheng families in negotiations over Yong'an Base’s hidden research and resources. Lou Qing sided with them, but the meeting ended with the three families demanding control of Tao Qiu, the cubs, and the awakening research.

• Lou Qing arrived at Yong'an Base in place of the Lou Family elders and joined Lou Quan’s side after Bai Yan demanded that he protect Lou Yu, Tao Qiu, and the children.
• Lou Quan encouraged Eldest Cub and Second Cub to stay close to Lou Qing, and the cubs called him Grandpa, offered him candy, and sat beside him at the negotiating table.
• The three families, represented by the Zheng Family, accused Lou Quan of concealing the Awakening Reagent research, Tao Qiu’s identity, and the special crops.
• The three families demanded Lou Quan’s imprisonment or exile and claimed the awakening research, Tao Qiu, and the three cubs as public property to be controlled by the Central Base.

Tao Qiu and the Lou family confronted representatives of the Bai, Shen, and Zheng families, who had come to punish Lou Quan and claim Yong'an Base. Tao Qiu revealed that a mutated monster had abducted his daughter and warned the families not to obstruct his search at Central Base.

• Tao Qiu rejected the representatives' claim that they could dictate his family's fate, and Lou Yu attacked the Bai representative after he insulted Tao Qiu.
• Lou Qing asserted that the three families had no authority to punish his children or seize control of Yong'an Base, while Tao Qiu denounced their hypocrisy and warned them against threatening its residents.
• Tao Qiu asked which family had raised the mutated monster that abducted his third daughter and directed traitors to contact the families.
• The representatives denied knowing the monster, and Lou Quan and Lou Yu concluded from their reactions that they were not informed about it.
• Tao Qiu said he and his family would search for the monster at Central Base and warned the three families not to target his family or hinder their search.

Tao Qiu and Lou Qing pressured the three families to revise their terms and allow Tao Qiu to enter the Central Base to find the dangerous mutated monster and rescue Third Cub. The representatives left to consult their family heads, and Tao Qiu gave them until seven that evening to respond.

• The three representatives demanded Tao Qiu cooperate in experiments and supply special crops, but Tao Qiu threatened to bring high-level mutated monsters to the Central Base if they blocked his way.
• Lou Quan backed Tao Qiu, and Lou Qing argued that the Lou Family would escort him to investigate the mutated monster, raising suspicion that the three families were hiding it.
• The three representatives suspended negotiations to consult their family heads, and Tao Qiu required them to return with revised terms by seven that evening.
• Eldest Cub and Second Cub praised Tao Qiu, Lou Yu, and Lou Qing, then asked Lou Qing to help them rescue Third Cub; Lou Qing promised to take them to the Central Base.
• The family ate together in the military canteen, where the cubs shared black pears with Lou Qing and his subordinates, and Lou Qing later met with Tao Qiu, Lou Yu, and Lou Quan.

Tao Qiu and Lou Yu negotiated support from the Lou Family and the three other families in exchange for special crops and future cooperation, then traveled with their children to the Central Base to rescue Yuanyuan. They reunited with Bai Yan, but she immediately asked why Yuanyuan was missing.

• Tao Qiu agreed to provide the Lou Family with special crops and cooperate with experiments led by Bai Yan, provided his life was not endangered.
• The three families agreed to buy special crops and seeds, with the agreement to be signed only after Yuanyuan was rescued and their loyalty confirmed.
• Tao Qiu, Lou Yu, the children, Lou Qing, and Lou Quan left Yong'an Base by helicopter and arrived safely at the Central Base.
• Lou Qing greeted the Lou Family's elders briefly before taking Eldest Cub and Second Cub to Bai Yan, who welcomed them warmly.
• Lou Yu introduced Tao Qiu and the children to Bai Yan, then reunited with her; Bai Yan asked where Yuanyuan was.

After returning to the Lou Family, Tao Qiu and Lou Yu searched for the mutated monster and Third Cub, but it stayed hidden. Lou Quan settled his dispute with the family elders and visited his mother’s grave, recalling the scandal surrounding his birth and the events that led him and Lou Hua to leave the family.

• Lou Yu moved Tao Qiu into his old room, and Lou Qing moved into the room beside Bai Yan’s after she chose a distant guest room.
• Tao Qiu and Lou Yu took the cubs through crowded parts of the base for a week to draw out the mutated monster, but it did not appear.
• Tao Qiu went out alone for two more days, while Lou Quan traded crops and laboratory data to have the charges against him withdrawn and remain commander of Yong'an Base.
• Lou Quan rejected an elder’s advice to reconcile with his father and threatened to kill his father and siblings, silencing the elders.
• Lou Quan visited Lou Hua’s grave and remembered how her affair with Lou Second, his birth, and the later exposure of the scandal led them to leave the Lou Family.

Lou Quan recalled how his half-siblings had orchestrated Lou Hua’s death and how he had poisoned them in revenge before leaving for Yong'an Base. At Lou Hua’s grave, he rejected Bai Huan, while Tao Qiu followed a mysterious note to a meeting arranged by the Shen Family.

• Lou Quan remembered Bai Huan’s betrayal, Lou Hua’s death, and his half-siblings’ role in the terrorist attack.
• After failing to secure legal justice, Lou Quan poisoned the second son of the Lou Family and his children, then transferred to Yong'an Base.
• At Lou Hua’s grave, Lou Quan told Bai Huan to leave and replaced the flowers he had brought.
• On his fifth day traveling alone, Tao Qiu found a note beneath his meal and followed its directions to a remote location.
• Two hooded ability users took Tao Qiu by car to a botanical garden and directed him into a domed building.
• Tao Qiu recognized the men’s connection to the Shen Family, startling them.