Zhou Tianming and Siu Zhenbang and Siu Huixian were originally close friends , but Zhenbang and their father Xiao Bailing took advantage of the danger and swallowed up the Zhou family's property when the Zhou family's business was in difficulty. Tianming snubbed his girlfriend Zhu Shuzhuang because of the great changes in his family and his dedicated career, and at this time Zhenbang actually developed a relationship with Shuzhuang and proposed to her, and Tianming hated the Xiao family even more. Later, Zhou's father had a heart attack after a conflict with Bai Ling, and eventually died, and Tianming did not hesitate to use Huixian to marry her in order to take revenge. After marriage, Tianming gradually encroached on the Xiao family's business, trying to restore the Zhou family's industry and revive the Zhou family's prestige, but because it became more and more crooked, it eventually caused an irreparable situation.

Bandit Chao investigates the theft of the Tianyi Holy Water from the Shengshui Palace and discovers that his friend Nangongyi, the leader of the Beggar Clan, and the monk Wuchin are involved and want him dead. Meanwhile, Chao's three female confidantes suddenly disappear, prompting him to search for them in the country of Yanyu. However, he becomes embroiled in a political coup there, masterminded by Wuchin disguised as another and his mother, Golden Bodhisattva. Chao confronts them, returns to the Central Plains, and is ambushed by Shuimu, the head of the Shengshui Palace, who wants to kill him. Chao sneaks into the palace and overhears Shang Yan, a disciple of the palace, reveal the truth about how Shuimu framed him to cover up a secret. The three engage in a life-and-death battle.

Restaurant owner Lu Ganyu has two sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Lu Wenjun, becomes a journalist and later opens his own newspaper. However, his newspaper is suppressed by rivals, making him realize the cunning nature of the business world and prompting him to change. Wenjun uses the wealthy Huang De to help him, but he later forces Huang to sell his shares. Wenqi, Wenjun's sister, marries Huang despite her family's objections, but they don't get along. Wenjun falls in love with Xiao Ailian and Zou Shujuan. Although he marries Shujuan, he can't forget about Ailian. In his bid for success, Wenjun ignores his family and even associates himself with Meng Yanhong, a famous matchmaker, leading to his eventual success but estrangement from his loved ones. Meanwhile, Huang and Wenjun's enemies conspire to take him down.

In “Homeward Bound”, the corrupt Health Inspector is not your usual villain; he spouts poetry and has a loving, dutiful wife. He's also a sybarite who balances his life around a shrewd, money worshipping concubine and a mistress that is romantic, if impractical. His increasing desolation as all three women leave him is palpable and sagaciously reflects the ephemeral nature of life.