Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li stays behind at the construction site, suggesting he has another purpose beyond disposing of the bodies.
• He makes a phone call, presumably to the police, which alarms the other New Card executors.
• Tong Guan realizes Ji Li's plan is to call the police in advance, potentially leading to their failure in the first round of the mission.
• Tong Guan devises a plan to counter Ji Li's strategy, realizing they don't need to see the handbag themselves, just know its location and call the police.
• Ji Li is heard speaking to someone on the phone, likely discussing the body disposal and seeking information.

Character Developments

• Ji Li demonstrates his cunning and strategic thinking, outmaneuvering the other executors.
• Tong Guan shows his analytical skills and adaptability, quickly devising a counterplan to Ji Li's strategy.
• Xiao Qian Duyue exhibits her intelligence and quick thinking, understanding Tong Guan's plan and questioning its details.

Significant Themes

• Strategic planning and adaptability in the face of unexpected variables.
• The blurred line between cooperation and competition among the New Card executors.
• The use of external forces (like the police) to achieve personal goals within the mission.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li's actions and plans are the central focus, with other characters reacting to his moves.
• Tong Guan and Xiao Qian Duyue work together to understand and counter Ji Li's strategy.
• Yu Xing and other executors are less involved in the planning process, relying on Tong Guan and Xiao Qian's insights.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li waits at the construction site after disposing of the body, expecting arrest to gain intelligence.
• Police arrive, led by Captain Wei Guang, and Ji Li confesses to disposing of the body.
• A second body is discovered in the neighboring construction site, belonging to the rapist buried by Fang Shenyan.
• Ji Li is taken to the police station for questioning.
• Ji Li receives a text message from Fang Shenyan, revealing he's been pulled back to November 18, 2000, with the third handbag, and instructs Ji Li to meet him at Jiangbei Park before 7:46 PM.

Character Developments

• Ji Li: Shows calmness and forthrightness in his actions, demonstrating his strategic mind and willingness to take risks for the mission.
• Captain Wei Guang: Displayed professionalism, sharp intuition, and intelligence in his initial interaction with Ji Li.

Significant Themes

• Time Manipulation: The ghost's ability to transport people through time is a significant development in this chapter.
• Strategic Planning: Ji Li's actions and decisions highlight the importance of strategic planning and adaptability in the mission.
• Trust and Communication: The text message from Fang Shenyan emphasizes the importance of trust and communication between the two.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Captain Wei Guang: Their initial interaction shows mutual wariness and assessment of each other's capabilities.
• Ji Li and Fang Shenyan: Despite not being physically present together, their communication through the text message demonstrates their reliance on each other for mission success.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li learns about the "Time-space type of mission" and the ghost's rapid, powerful attacks.
• He is brought to the Shanming City Bureau for questioning.
• Ji Li plans to gather information and provoke the ghost to escape and obtain the case file.
• Wei Guang, the captain, is unaware of Ji Li's true identity and intentions but suspects he's connected to the case.
• Ji Li contacts Fang Shenyan, who is in the past, and learns about the fourth handbag's location.

Character Developments

• Ji Li: He remains calm and strategic, adapting to the new mission format and communicating with Fang Shenyan.
• Wei Guang: He is determined to solve the case, showing a sense of duty and personal connection to it.

Significant Themes

• Time manipulation and its consequences.
• The power dynamics between Ji Li, the ghost, and the hotel.
• The importance of information and intelligence gathering in solving the case.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Fang Shenyan: They maintain communication across time, sharing crucial information and planning their next steps.
• Ji Li and Wei Guang: There's a tense dynamic between them, with Wei Guang suspicious of Ji Li's intentions while Ji Li observes and manipulates the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li realizes that ghosts attack murderers in his cases, and suspects a connection between Xie Zheng and Fang Shenyan's attacks.
• Wei Guang, the Detective Captain, interrogates Ji Li, implying he's involved in the murder, and reveals that the mission card Ji Li has is a piece of evidence from the Mu Nianmei Case.
• Ji Li sees a vision of a red sweater and hears an eerie sound before losing consciousness.

Character Developments

• Ji Li: Realizes the pattern behind the ghosts' attacks, but struggles to find a complete explanation. He maintains his composure during interrogation but is caught off guard by the revelation about the mission card.
• Wei Guang: Becomes increasingly hostile towards Ji Li during the interrogation, hinting that he suspects Ji Li's involvement in the murder.

Significant Themes

• The theme of the unknown: Ji Li's investigation reveals patterns, but he's still uncertain about the full picture, and unexpected variables arise.
• The theme of evidence and truth: Wei Guang uses evidence to pressure Ji Li, while Ji Li tries to use evidence to frame Tong Guan.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Wei Guang: Their interaction is tense, with Wei Guang trying to catch Ji Li in a lie, and Ji Li trying to maintain his innocence while gathering information.
• Ji Li and the ghost: Ji Li has a brief, unsettling interaction with the ghost, seeing a red sweater and hearing an eerie sound.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li is attacked by a ghost and pulled into an unknown space.
• Xie Zheng, a store employee, is present and warns Ji Li to "Close your eyes, stay silent."
• A young police officer is also dragged in and attacked by the ghost.
• Extreme, violent music plays, disorienting Ji Li and the others.
• Ji Li's Third Personality provides details about their surroundings and the ghost's attack.

Character Developments

• Ji Li: Loses his sight and hearing, relies on his Third Personality for information.
• Xie Zheng: Survives in harsh conditions, demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness.
• Young Police Officer: Becomes a victim of the ghost's attack.
• Wei Guang: Shows quick thinking and adaptability, tries to help the young officer.

Significant Themes

• The ghost's method of attack: Dragging people into unknown spaces and killing them using the same method as in the Mu Nianmei Case.
• Survival against supernatural threats: Ji Li and Xie Zheng try to endure and adapt to the ghost's attacks.
• The power of music: The extreme music disorients and affects the characters psychologically.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Xie Zheng: Xie Zheng warns Ji Li about the ghost's attack, and Ji Li relies on his Third Personality to observe their surroundings.
• The young police officer and Wei Guang: The officer is attacked by the ghost, and Wei Guang tries to help him stay silent.
• Ji Li and his Third Personality: Ji Li's Third Personality provides crucial information about their situation, helping Ji Li understand what's happening.

Key plot points and events

• Ji Li questions the Third Personality about the ghost attacking the young police officer. It appears human-shaped, but shadows obscure it; its extraordinarily long black hair covers its body. It tortures its victims with a knife, cutting them with unnerving precision.
• The Third Personality identifies possible rules: screams seem to make the ghost cut faster, while keeping one’s eyes closed appears to disrupt its precision. Ji Li reasons that the ghost attacked him because he learned something important at the police station.
• The front door is only about twenty steps away. Xie Zheng, trapped there for six hours, had already tried to reach it and lost much of a hand and foot. He signals Ji Li to go, hoping the newcomers’ arrival will create an opportunity to escape.
• With the ghost occupied by the young man and Wei Guang, Ji Li removes his boots and silently heads for the door, guided by the Third Personality. On the way, he notices an electric stove containing cooked meat—but has no chance to investigate.
• Just as Ji Li nears the exit, the front door swings open, apparently by itself. He senses that someone—or something—has passed him, though the Third Personality sees no one.
• Xie Zheng turns back with a knowing smile. A strange, overpowering scent strikes Ji Li; then a rusty knife pierces his right ankle, and the ghost’s black hair drags him away from the door. Ji Li realizes that smell is another trigger or means of attack, beyond sight and sound.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Li remains analytical and composed, using the apparent rules to make a careful escape attempt. His confidence proves premature: he has underestimated both the danger and Xie Zheng.
• Xie Zheng is revealed as patient, calculating, and willing to exploit others. Though badly injured, he has been waiting for an opportunity to escape and appears to retaliate against Ji Li for an earlier scheme.
• The Third Personality acts as Ji Li’s observer and guide, reporting the ghost’s behavior and warning him about the stove and the attack.
• Wei Guang tries to silence and protect the tortured young man, but his actions—and the young man’s screams—may affect the ghost’s attacks. The scene frames his efforts as both compassionate and potentially prolonging the victim’s suffering.

Significant themes

• Survival and sacrifice: Escape seems possible only while the ghost is distracted, and Xie Zheng’s plan depends on others taking the risk.
• Incomplete knowledge: Apparent rules offer hope but remain uncertain; overlooking one sensory trigger can be fatal.
• Retribution: Xie Zheng’s apparent betrayal echoes the chapter’s title: those who harm others may be harmed in turn.
• The cost of desperation: The young man’s prolonged agony and Xie Zheng’s severe injuries show how survival can demand—or inflict—terrible suffering.

Plot points

• Ji Li is caught by the ghost’s black hair and dragged away from the exit. He realizes he underestimated the threat and reviews the attack rules: unfamiliar smells make the ghost change targets, sight determines whom it attacks, and sound affects how often it strikes. Smell appears to take priority over sight, with sound least important.
• The ghost’s attention is divided between Ji Li and the badly injured young officer, buying Ji Li time—but its red-eyed gaze also traps Ji Li in powerful mind interference. While he is incapacitated, the ghost begins peeling skin from his face.
• Ji Li’s unusual Gray Soul eventually helps him regain awareness. He throws his fragrant trench coat over Wei Guang, hoping to redirect the ghost’s attention and escape.
• The ghost does not let anyone go: its black hair drags Ji Li, Wei Guang, and the officer back, while the knife moves toward Ji Li’s forehead. Ji Li realizes his assumptions are wrong and fears the ghost intends to kill everyone still in the house.

Character developments and interactions

• Ji Li remains resourceful under extreme pain, but his confidence in interpreting supernatural rules is shaken. He adapts quickly, using the coat as a desperate diversion.
• The Third Personality recognizes the danger of the ghost’s combined sensory killing method and mind interference. It cannot intervene physically, leaving it increasingly frantic as Ji Li is mutilated.
• Wei Guang, an experienced detective, keeps calm enough to observe the others and attempt an escape with the injured officer. He follows what he can infer—closing his eyes and staying silent—but does not understand the scent rule and is caught by Ji Li’s diversion.
• Xie Zheng has escaped the immediate attack, but his earlier use of the perfume bottle helped shift the ghost’s attention and delay its assault on Ji Li.

Significant themes

• Uncertainty and failed assumptions: Experience from earlier missions offers no guarantee when a ghost follows unfamiliar rules.
• Survival through observation and improvisation: The characters try to infer patterns and exploit them, but each tactic carries risks.
• The limits of control: Ji Li’s quick thinking and unusual resilience cannot prevent the ghost from reclaiming its victims.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li awakens in a dire situation, trapped in a Supernatural Barrier formed by black hair, with a ghostly hand holding a knife poised to strike his temple.
• Ji Li uses the power of the Bronze Ancient Coffin, a Sin Item belonging to the Wheel-Turning King, to shatter the barrier and evade the ghost's attack.
• Ji Li, Wei Guang, and the young police officer are in a small, old house. Ji Li focuses on the rules of survival, targeting taste as a path to life for ghosts.

Character Developments

• Ji Li: He demonstrates immense strength and cunning, using the Bronze Ancient Coffin's power to save himself and others. He shows no mercy, targeting Wei Guang to use as bait.
• Wei Guang: Despite his fear, he tries to save his apprentice, the young police officer, but is injured by Ji Li.
• The Young Police Officer: Remains unconscious throughout the chapter, with only a brief "flicker of life" at the end.

Significant Themes

• Survival: Ji Li's primary goal is to survive, using whatever means necessary, including targeting others for their survival.
• Power and Weakness: The Bronze Ancient Coffin represents immense power, while Ji Li's injuries and the ghost's attacks highlight their weaknesses.
• Trust and Betrayal: Wei Guang tries to save his apprentice but is betrayed by Ji Li.

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Wei Guang: Ji Li targets Wei Guang, using him as bait to potentially lure the ghost away from him. Wei Guang tries to save his apprentice but is betrayed by Ji Li.
• Ji Li and the Ghost: Ji Li uses the Bronze Ancient Coffin to counter the ghost's attack, but the ghost remains a threat.
• Wei Guang and the Young Police Officer: Wei Guang tries to save his apprentice, showing a sense of responsibility and care.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Li concludes that someone must die for him to leave the haunted building.
• He decides to use Wei Guang as bait to distract the ghost.
• Ji Li escapes the building after a fierce struggle, leaving Wei Guang and the ghost behind.
• He receives a message from Fang Shenyan about the third handbag's location and sees Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian at Shanming University of Finance and Economics.
• Ji Li realizes that the university holds a crucial quest hint related to Mu Nianmei's case.
• Upon leaving the building, Ji Li is startled by a decayed face attached to his neck, which speaks ominously: "I remember you. We will meet again soon."

Character Developments

• Ji Li demonstrates his cunning and ruthlessness in using Wei Guang as bait to escape the ghost.
• The Third Personality proves useful by warning Ji Li about the ghost's attacks.
• Ji Li shows determination and resourcefulness in piecing together clues about the Mu Nianmei case.

Significant Themes

• Survival and adaptability in the face of supernatural threats.
• The importance of information and clues in completing quests.
• The consequences of Ji Li's actions on others (using Wei Guang as bait).

Character Interactions

• Ji Li and Wei Guang: Ji Li uses Wei Guang as bait to distract the ghost, leading to a tense and violent confrontation.
• Ji Li and the ghost: Ji Li outsmarts the ghost by using Wei Guang's flesh as a distraction, allowing him to escape.
• Ji Li and Fang Shenyan: They exchange information via messages, aiding each other in their quests.
• Ji Li and the decayed face: The face's ominous message suggests a future encounter with a formidable threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian, members of the Seventh Branch, are sent back in time to 2000 by a ghost while investigating Mu Nianmei's case at Shanming University of Finance and Economics.
• They are tasked with exploring the university to gather information, while their teammates, led by Tong Guan, investigate from the present.
• Xiao Qian Duyue is determined to help, but Gao Hongqian is fearful and reluctant to enter the campus.

Character Developments

• Xiao Qian Duyue: She shows courage and determination to complete the mission, despite her initial fear. She's willing to take risks to help her teammates and believes in the purpose behind the time travel.
• Gao Hongqian: He is fearful, selfish, and only interested in reaping rewards. He's unwilling to take risks and plans to let others do the dangerous work. He's also resentful towards Tong Guan for putting them in this situation.

Significant Themes

• Courage vs. Cowardice: Xiao Qian Duyue's determination contrasts with Gao Hongqian's fear and reluctance to face danger.
• Trust and Betrayal: Gao Hongqian's plan to let others take risks and his potential betrayal of Xiao Qian Duyue highlights the theme of trust and betrayal within the team.
• Purpose and Sacrifice: Xiao Qian Duyue's belief in the purpose behind their mission and her willingness to sacrifice for it is a central theme.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian: Their interaction highlights the contrast between their characters. Xiao Qian Duyue tries to persuade Gao Hongqian to enter the campus, showing her determination and leadership. Gao Hongqian, however, is stubborn and unwilling to cooperate, revealing his selfish nature.
• Gao Hongqian and the Mysterious Caller (Lan Yu): The mysterious caller, Lan Yu from Branch No. 1, manipulates Gao Hongqian by threatening his family and giving him an impossible task, showing the power dynamics between them and Gao Hongqian's vulnerability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lan Yu, at Branch No. 1, reviews Gao Hongqian's file, hinting at Branch No. 1's interference in Seventh Branch's affairs.
• Branch No. 1's complex power dynamics are revealed, with Li Yi as the Branch Manager and three Vice Branch Managers (Tie Lin, Gu Qingyun, Xu Nan) causing internal strife.
• Lan Yu, belonging to Tie Lin's faction, agrees to a plan to eliminate Ji Li and Fang Shenyan by targeting Xiao Qian Duyue first.
• Gao Hongqian, at Shanming University, realizes he's a pawn in Branch No. 1's conflict with Seventh Branch.
• Lan Yu marks Gao Hongqian with the number "2," giving him three minutes to find Xiao Qian Duyue or face death.

Character Developments

• Lan Yu: Shows reluctance in carrying out Tie Lin's orders but agrees to it, hinting at potential disloyalty or fear.
• Gao Hongqian: Realizes his situation's severity and acts urgently to find Xiao Qian Duyue.
• Li Yi: Revealed to be an irresponsible Branch Manager, leaving internal affairs to others.
• Tie Lin, Gu Qingyun, Xu Nan: Their power struggle and lack of respect for each other is highlighted.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and corruption within the branches.
• Manipulation and pawns in larger schemes.
• The Victim Sequence's introduction, suggesting a predetermined order of targets.

Character Interactions

• Lan Yu and Gao Hongqian: Lan Yu manipulates Gao Hongqian, marking him and giving him a deadline.
• Lan Yu and Tie Lin (implied): Lan Yu agrees to Tie Lin's plan but seems disapproving.
• Li Yi and other Vice Branch Managers (implied): Their power struggle and lack of cooperation is evident.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qian Duyue arrives at Shanming University of Finance and Economics in 2000, tasked with investigating the library's records from 2000 to 2015 to find potential suspects related to the 'Mu Nianmei Case' and the 'November 18th Dismemberment Case'.
• She discovers a corpse in the library stairwell, bearing signs of a gruesome death, suggesting the presence of a ghost and serving as a warning.

Character Developments

• Xiao Qian Duyue demonstrates growth and resilience, facing her fears and adapting to her mission-driven role, unlike her initial naive self.
• Tong Guan shows analytical prowess, linking the mission cards to the cases and providing strategic guidance.

Significant Themes

• Fear and courage: Xiao Qian Duyue faces her fears, showing bravery in the face of danger.
• Teamwork: Tong Guan's insights highlight the importance of cooperation between the two groups of staff across time periods.
• The supernatural: The presence of a ghost in the library underscores the mysterious and eerie nature of the mission.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Qian Duyue and Tong Guan maintain communication, with Tong Guan providing guidance and Xiao Qian Duyue sharing her findings.
• Xiao Qian Duyue's interaction with the corpse in the library serves as a warning and a test of her courage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qian Duyue hesitates at the entrance to the second floor of the library, considering whether to proceed or not.
• A sudden, strong wind and strange noises startle her, and she smells a pungent odor.
• Gao Hongqian arrives on the first floor, and Xiao Qian Duyue sends him a text message, believing he's there to help.
• Xiao Qian Duyue decides to go to the second floor, pushing open the doors.
• Gao Hongqian finds a horrifying corpse in the communication area on the first floor and gets trapped.
• A third person, calm and composed, arrives and tears off the face of the corpse on the second floor, wearing it himself.

Character Developments

• Xiao Qian Duyue: She's initially hesitant and fearful but gains some confidence, deciding to go to the second floor. However, she remains cautious and vigilant.
• Gao Hongqian: He's desperate to find Xiao Qian Duyue due to a threat from Branch No. 1 but is terrified when he finds the corpse and gets trapped.
• The Third Person (unnamed): He's calm and composed, even in the face of a gruesome corpse. He displays a cold, calculating demeanor.

Significant Themes

• Fear and Hesitation: Xiao Qian Duyue struggles with fear and indecision, while Gao Hongqian is paralyzed by fear upon seeing the corpse.
• Desperation and Threats: Gao Hongqian acts out of desperation due to the threat from Branch No. 1.
• Calculated Coldness: The third person's calm and calculated actions contrast with the fear and desperation of the other characters.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian: Xiao Qian Duyue believes Gao Hongqian is there to help her, but he's actually there to find her due to a threat.
• The Third Person and the Corpse: The third person interacts with the corpse on the second floor, tearing off its face and wearing it.
• Xiao Qian Duyue and the Third Person: Though not directly interacting yet, Xiao Qian Duyue's name is mentioned by the third person, suggesting their paths will cross.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Shenyan discovers a skin with a Sin Item-like ability to see through solid objects, revealing Xiao Qian Duyue's predicament on the second floor.
• The corpse between the first and second floors is found to be suspicious, with its purpose likely serving a special function for the Staff.
• Fang Shenyan decides to observe and let Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian find the information while he waits.
• Gao Hongqian is attacked by a ghostly corpse that can turn its body independently, trying to grab and drag him towards it.
• Gao Hongqian is deceived by an illusion of Xiao Qian Duyue's voice, leading to his capture by the ghostly corpse.

Character Developments

• Fang Shenyan: Shows strategic thinking and adaptability, choosing to observe and wait for Xiao Qian Duyue and Gao Hongqian to find information.
• Xiao Qian Duyue: Demonstrates courage and intuition by not fleeing immediately after encountering a ghost, suggesting she senses a clue within the library.
• Gao Hongqian: Reveals his cowardice and desperation as he tries to escape the ghostly corpse, ultimately falling for its deception.

Significant Themes

• Deception: The ghost uses illusions to manipulate Gao Hongqian, leading to his capture.
• Adaptability: Fang Shenyan changes his approach, deciding to observe and wait instead of immediately testing the "Supernatural Sequences."
• Despair: Gao Hongqian's hope of escape fades as he realizes the truth behind the illusions and is dragged towards the ghostly corpse.

Character Interactions

• Fang Shenyan observes Xiao Qian Duyue's actions and deduces her potential discovery of a clue.
• Gao Hongqian interacts with the ghostly corpse, trying to evade it while seeking an escape.
• The ghostly corpse manipulates Gao Hongqian through illusions, ultimately deceiving him into being captured.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gao Hongqian, terrified of death, reaches out to Lan Yu for help.
• Lan Yu predicts Fang Shenyan's arrival and provides an escape route for Gao Hongqian.
• Fang Shenyan saves Gao Hongqian from a ghostly corpse and questions him about his phone call with Lan Yu.
• Fang Shenyan calls the unknown number, and Lan Yu answers, engaging in a silent standoff.

Character Developments

• Gao Hongqian: Realizes his dire situation, becomes desperate for survival, and complies with Fang Shenyan's demands.
• Fang Shenyan: Demonstrates his power and indifference, showing no mercy towards Gao Hongqian.
• Lan Yu: Remains calm and collected, predicting events and engaging in a psychological battle with Fang Shenyan.

Significant Themes

• Fear of death and desperation for survival (Gao Hongqian)
• Power dynamics and indifference (Fang Shenyan)
• Psychological warfare and manipulation (Lan Yu)

Character Interactions

• Gao Hongqian and Lan Yu: Gao Hongqian reaches out to Lan Yu for help, but Lan Yu's true intentions remain unclear.
• Fang Shenyan and Gao Hongqian: Fang Shenyan saves Gao Hongqian but shows no mercy, questioning him about his phone call.
• Fang Shenyan and Lan Yu: Engage in a silent standoff over the phone, each waiting for the other to speak first.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Shenyan's accomplishments in Kyoto: designed the plan, killed Li Yiqing, obtained the White-faced Ghost Mask, and gained Ghost Transformation Power.
• Lan Yu, from Branch No. 1, appears and reveals he's there to keep Fang Shenyan at the university.
• Fang Shenyan deduces that Gao Hongqian is being controlled by a ghost from Branch No. 1 and that there's a mole within their Seventh Branch.
• Fang Shenyan confronts the ghost, but the reality around him begins to warp, affecting the library's layout and causing Xiao Qian Duyue to hang upside down.

Character Developments

• Fang Shenyan: Demonstrates his sharp intellect and supernatural powers. He remains calm and composed even when facing a powerful ghost.
• Lan Yu: Reveals his true intentions and affiliation, showing that Branch No. 1 is involved in a larger scheme.
• Gao Hongqian: Struggles with his loyalty and fear, eventually fleeing the scene.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural powers and their limitations.
• Trust and betrayal within the branches.
• The struggle between different branches for power and influence.

Character Interactions

• Fang Shenyan and Lan Yu: Lan Yu tries to intimidate Fang Shenyan, but Fang remains unfazed and deduces Lan Yu's true intentions.
• Fang Shenyan and Gao Hongqian: Fang Shenyan sees through Gao Hongqian's deception and forces him to reveal the truth.
• Fang Shenyan and Xiao Qian Duyue: They briefly make eye contact as the reality around them distorts, indicating a shared struggle against the ghost's power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The library becomes a distorted, inverted world due to a powerful ghost's presence.
• Xiao Qian Duyue is in danger of falling into a sea of books that hides an endless abyss.
• Fang Shenyan realizes that Lan Yu, from the Seventh Branch, orchestrated the ghost's attack and placed a ghost on the staff member.
• Fang Shenyan decides to take Xiao Qian Duyue to the third floor, the unknown territory, for survival.

Character Developments

• Fang Shenyan demonstrates his analytical skills and decisiveness in crisis situations.
• Xiao Qian Duyue shows resilience and determination despite her dire situation.
• Lan Yu's true intentions and possible prophetic abilities are hinted at.

Significant Themes

• The power and unpredictability of ghosts.
• The importance of quick thinking and adaptability in survival situations.
• The theme of the unknown and the potential opportunities it presents.

Character Interactions

• Fang Shenyan and Xiao Qian Duyue interact briefly, with Fang Shenyan deciding to help Xiao Qian Duyue despite their differing methods.
• Lan Yu's actions indirectly affect both Fang Shenyan and Xiao Qian Duyue, driving the plot forward.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Qian Duyue falls into a sea of books and is pulled back from the brink of death by Fang Shenyan.
• Fang Shenyan uses his human skin glove to send a bookshelf to Xiao Qian Duyue, who manages to pull herself onto it.
• Fang Shenyan attempts to send Xiao Qian Duyue to the third floor using a table and his glove, but she falls short.
• Xiao Qian Duyue tries to jump to the third floor platform but is unexpectedly pulled up by an unseen force.

Character Developments

• Xiao Qian Duyue becomes more decisive and brave, choosing to trust Fang Shenyan and acting swiftly.
• Fang Shenyan shows determination to keep Xiao Qian Duyue alive, revealing his need for her help in obtaining the ledger she carries.

Significant Themes

• Trust and cooperation: Xiao Qian Duyue and Fang Shenyan must trust and rely on each other to navigate the dangerous environment.
• Death and survival: The chapter explores the theme of survival against seemingly insurmountable odds, with Xiao Qian Duyue facing death multiple times.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Qian Duyue and Fang Shenyan work together to keep Xiao Qian Duyue from sinking into the sea of books.
• Fang Shenyan shows concern for Xiao Qian Duyue's safety, trying to send her to the third floor despite the risks.
• Xiao Qian Duyue trusts Fang Shenyan enough to follow his instructions and jump towards the third floor platform.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Shenyan arrives on the Third Floor, finding it dark and cold, with a strange smell of formalin.
• He finds a rope thrown down from above, supposedly by Xiao Qian Duyue, but he's suspicious and tests it before climbing up.
• On the Third Floor, he can't find the Path to Life or the ghost, but he senses the formalin's source is northwest.
• He discovers three small rooms, theorizing they correspond to the three people in the library. He opens one to find Xiao Qian Duyue sealed in a glass cylinder filled with formalin.

Character Developments

• Fang Shenyan: He becomes more cautious and suspicious, using a ruse to test Xiao Qian Duyue's intentions. He's determined to find the ghost and the Path to Life.
• Xiao Qian Duyue: She appears disheveled and confused, carrying the formalin scent. She's curious about Fang Shenyan's actions but doesn't press him. Later, she's found unconscious and sealed in formalin.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Fang Shenyan is wary of Xiao Qian Duyue due to her sudden disappearance and the strange environment.
• The unknown: The Third Floor is enveloped in darkness and filled with unfamiliar smells and sounds, representing the unknown and the supernatural.
• Death and preservation: The formalin and the sealed cylinder suggest themes of death and preservation, possibly hinting at the ghost's intentions.

Character Interactions

• Fang Shenyan and Xiao Qian Duyue: They interact minimally, with Xiao Qian Duyue asking questions and Fang Shenyan ignoring or avoiding her. Their dynamic remains tense and uncertain.
• Fang Shenyan and the ghost: Fang Shenyan's actions are driven by his desire to find and confront the ghost, but the ghost remains elusive.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fang Shenyan discovers Xiao Qian Duyue in a glass cylinder filled with formalin, on the brink of death.
• A ghost uses its Mind Interference ability to trap Fang Shenyan in a similar cylinder, intending to exploit his body parts.
• Fang Shenyan transforms into a ghost form, revealing a powerful aura and black threads. He saves Xiao Qian Duyue from the ghost's attack.
• Fang Shenyan forcefully removes the ghost from Xiao Qian Duyue and presses it against the wall.

Character Developments

• Fang Shenyan's human form is severely injured and trapped, but he manages to transform into a powerful ghost form.
• Xiao Qian Duyue is rescued but hasn't shown any significant development yet.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between life and death, as seen in Xiao Qian Duyue's predicament and Fang Shenyan's transformation.
• The theme of transformation and adaptation, as Fang Shenyan transforms into a ghost to save Xiao Qian Duyue.
• The theme of power and qualification, as the ghost tests Fang Shenyan's worthiness.

Character Interactions

• Fang Shenyan and the ghost engage in a silent, intense confrontation, with the ghost testing Fang Shenyan's capabilities.
• Fang Shenyan saves Xiao Qian Duyue from the ghost's attack, showing his protective nature towards her.
• Fang Shenyan's transformation into a ghost form hints at a deeper connection or understanding between them, as he seems to know the ghost's intentions.