Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• A grotesque human face appears at Hu Deping's window, terrifying him.
• The face claims to be unable to enter the room and tries to lure Hu Deping out.
• Jiang Qiao, in Black Mountain County, recalls a travelogue from before the Great Cataclysm that mentions a similar phenomenon.

Character Developments

• Hu Deping: Initially terrified, he gains some composure and starts to question the strange face.
• Jiang Qiao: He demonstrates his knowledge of ancient texts and his ability to recall details from them.

Significant Themes

• Fear of the unknown and the supernatural.
• The power of curiosity and courage in the face of fear.
• The importance of knowledge and understanding in dealing with the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Hu Deping interacts with the strange face at his window, trying to understand its intentions.
• Jiang Qiao interacts with the text from the Durahan's library, drawing a connection to Hu Deping's situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Traveler sees an unusually tall man in his yard but dismisses it as a hallucination.
• Several days later, his pets act strangely, and he discovers a giant human face peering through his bedroom window.
• Terrified, he flees the house and learns about the house's grim history from neighbors.
• Twelve years later, he hears about a coal mine accident involving an inexplicably deep well.

Character Developments

• The Traveler: Initially skeptical and rational, he becomes increasingly frightened and unsettled by the supernatural events, ultimately leaving the haunted house.
• Million (the dog) and the cat: They sense the supernatural presence before the Traveler does, displaying fear and unusual behavior.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural encounters and the blurring of reality and illusion.
• The Traveler's struggle with disbelief and acceptance of the paranormal.
• The impact of the past on the present, as the house's grim history influences current events.

Character Interactions

• The Traveler interacts with his pets, who sense the supernatural presence before he does, serving as a warning system.
• He also interacts with neighbors who share the house's dark history, providing him with crucial information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Miners reported strange phenomena before a coal mine collapse, including a bottomless vertical shaft and giant, bizarre human faces, dismissed as mass hallucinations due to harmful gas leakage.
• The Traveler, unsettled by these reports, connects them to his past experience and discovers similar incidents worldwide, all involving places with seemingly bottomless caves.
• The Traveler and a group of supernatural enthusiasts investigate a lake near his childhood home, finding it much deeper than recorded, with no visible bottom.
• After the Great Cataclysm, the Traveler reappears as a Malevolent Spirit, eventually killed by a Durahan.

Character Developments

• The Traveler: Initially a curious and intuitive individual, he evolves into a fearless explorer seeking answers, ultimately transforming into a Malevolent Spirit.
• Jiang Qiao: He deduces that the strange face seen by the miners is a Mountain Ghost, leading him to consider Golden Rooster Mountain as a potential location.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences and their explanations.
• The power of intuition and curiosity in driving exploration and discovery.
• The consequences of pursuing the unknown and the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• The Traveler interacts with a group of supernatural enthusiasts, who join him in his investigation, displaying fearlessness and resourcefulness.
• Jiang Qiao, through his deductions, connects with the Traveler's past experiences and the broader supernatural world.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao remembers his experience on the Ghost Train, identifying the "Rooster Mountain" as the legendary "Golden Rooster Mountain" from folklore.
• The chapter introduces Golden Rooster Mountain as the fifth trial for lost souls, with its peak emitting golden light and murderous intent.
• Jiang Qiao observes a scene in a copper basin where a protagonist confronts a giant human face, which seems to be a Mountain Ghost.
• The chapter hints at the existence of "Prisoners" living deep within Golden Rooster Mountain.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: Recalls his past experiences and shows interest in the copper basin, indicating his desire to possess it.
• The Old Man: Feels a sense of danger but finds nothing, showing his perceptiveness but also his uncertainty.
• The Woman and the Man: Trust in the space's defenses but remain vigilant, showing their confidence and caution.

Significant Themes

• The Supernatural World's connection to the human world, with the copper basin serving as a connection point.
• The evolution of Mountain Ghosts and malevolent ghosts, and the role of Weirdness in their development.
• The scarcity and value of Supernatural Items capable of connecting the two worlds.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao observes the three individuals (the old man, the woman, and the man) from afar, considering them as obstacles to obtain the copper basin.
• The old man, the woman, and the man discuss the perceived danger and their confidence in the space's defenses, showing their trust in each other and their shared knowledge.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao, an Awakened, is in an underground space, suspecting it to be Golden Rooster Mountain, a dangerous supernatural location.
• Hu Deping, a local, is experiencing supernatural events in his house, including a monstrous face with a donkey's head appearing at the window.
• Hu Deping falls asleep, only to wake up to find the bedroom door open. He feels a strange presence and sees rotten feet retracting under the bed. He then hears footsteps outside the room.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: He is confident in his abilities but acknowledges the potential danger of the location. He reflects on his past experiences in the Supernatural World, suggesting he has a rich history and knowledge of supernatural phenomena.
• Hu Deping: Initially brave, he becomes increasingly terrified as the supernatural events unfold. His fear reaches a peak when he sees the rotten feet and hears the footsteps.

Significant Themes

• The theme of fear and its escalation is prominent, as Hu Deping's initial bravery gives way to terror as he encounters more supernatural occurrences.
• The power dynamics between humans and supernatural entities are explored, with Jiang Qiao's confidence contrasting with Hu Deping's growing helplessness.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and Hu Deping have a brief interaction outside the window, with Jiang Qiao trying to reassure Hu Deping. However, their interaction is limited, and they don't directly interact in this chapter.
• Hu Deping's interactions with the supernatural entities are one-sided, with him reacting to their presence but not communicating with them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, a man, is trapped in a haunted house, encountering multiple malevolent ghosts but managing to endure psychologically.
• Three individuals (a man, a woman, and an old man) are watching the protagonist's situation through a supernatural item, a copper basin.
• They discuss whether to make the protagonist send them items from the house using a curse or wait for him to find a true supernatural weapon.
• The old man, the leader of Black Mountain County, initially wants to wait five hours but agrees to three hours after the woman's intervention.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates strong psychological fortitude in facing malevolent ghosts.
• The three individuals' relationship is revealed to be tense and opportunistic, with each having their own agenda.
• The old man shows reluctance to share power and potential supernatural weapons, while the woman and the man try to maintain a balance.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and manipulation within a group.
• The struggle for resources and control in a supernatural context.
• The psychological resilience of an ordinary person facing extraordinary circumstances.

Character Interactions

• The old man, woman, and man interact with each other, revealing their hidden agendas and tension in their alliance.
• The protagonist interacts with the malevolent ghosts, showing his ability to endure fear and survive in a dangerous environment.
• Jiang Qiao, an Awakener, observes and analyzes the situation, showing his understanding of supernatural phenomena and human nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A strange black substance invades the copper basin, disrupting the surveillance feed.
• The old man and the woman discuss the anomaly, realizing something is trying to invade from the other side.
• The old man loses control of the copper basin, and a malevolent entity begins to manifest.
• The old man decides to leave Black Mountain County immediately, followed by the woman.
• The middle-aged man is killed gruesomely by the entity manifesting from the copper basin.

Character Developments

• The old man, the owner of the copper basin, shows concern for his safety and decides to leave when he loses control of the basin.
• The middle-aged man's greed leads to his demise as he hesitates near the copper basin.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Threat: The invasion of the malevolent entity highlights the danger posed by the supernatural world.
• Greed and Its Consequences: The middle-aged man's greed for a supernatural weapon leads to his death.
• Powerlessness: The old man's loss of control over the copper basin demonstrates his vulnerability and the limits of his power.

Character Interactions

• The old man and the woman communicate about the situation, showing a level of understanding and cooperation.
• The middle-aged man's hesitation and greed cause a rift between him and the others, ultimately leading to his death.
• The entity from the other side interacts with the middle-aged man's shadow, killing him in a gruesome manner.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A woman, an Awakener, flees from an underground space invaded by unknown supernatural forces.
• The connection between the Copper Basin and Golden Rooster Mountain strengthens, and Malevolent Ghosts start emerging from the basin.
• Jiang Qiao, who remains in the underground space, identifies one of the Malevolent Ghosts as a Mountain Ghost, a creature he had been searching for.
• The woman and an old man escape the underground space but decide to flee separately.
• The woman returns home to find her son awake and her mother upstairs playing mahjong with neighbors, unaware of the impending danger.

Character Developments

• The woman demonstrates her peak Second Order Awakener abilities by quickly ascending a flight of stairs in a matter of seconds, driven by survival instinct.
• Jiang Qiao shows his analytical skills and knowledge of supernatural creatures by identifying the Mountain Ghost.
• The woman reveals her protective nature towards her family, prioritizing their safety over her own.
• The old man displays his self-preservation instincts by fleeing alone without waiting for the woman.

Significant Themes

• Survival instinct and self-preservation in the face of danger.
• The importance of family and prioritizing their safety.
• The increasing terror of supernatural events and the need for constant vigilance.

Character Interactions

• The woman and the old man escape together from the underground space but decide to flee separately due to the severity of the situation.
• The woman interacts with her son, Guoguo, and shows concern for his well-being.
• The woman's mother and neighbors are oblivious to the danger, focusing on their game of mahjong, highlighting the contrast between their normal lives and the impending threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist's mother's villa is disturbed by an unknown entity playing mahjong.
• The protagonist, a top figure in Black Mountain County, realizes the entity is supernatural and decides to flee with her son.
• She leaves the city on a motorcycle, planning to use an assault boat and buried supplies to reach Fengcheng.
• She avoids the dock due to the malfunctioning Copper Basin, which could release Malevolent Spirits.
• An old man, another top figure, also escapes, using a Supernatural Item to move quickly.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates her resourcefulness and preparedness, having hidden motorcycles and supplies for emergencies.
• The old man shows his cunning and knowledge of Supernatural Items.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural events and their impact on human life.
• Preparedness and resourcefulness in the face of danger.
• The importance of quick decision-making and action in crisis situations.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with her son, showing concern for his safety and giving him instructions.
• The old man is mentioned but doesn't interact with the protagonist directly in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An old man, a Third Order Awakener from Shi City, finds himself trapped in a supernatural phenomenon, a "Ghost Wall," around Black Mountain County.
• He attempts to escape but finds himself back at the outskirts of the county town, realizing the phenomenon's range is over ten kilometers.
• To survive, he summons a Child's Head, a supernatural entity attached to his neck, which can communicate with other Malevolent Ghosts and guide him through the phenomenon.
• The Child's Head guides him forward, warning him about Malevolent Ghosts behind him, indicating at least three are following.
• The old man understands that the Child's Head cannot directly lead him out of the county town and that its guidance is temporary. It will eventually demand something in return, and if not satisfied, it may lead him into danger.

Character Developments

• The old man is revealed to be a powerful Awakener from a big city, but he's now desperate and fearful, relying on the Child's Head to survive.
• The Child's Head, despite its terrifying appearance, is shown to be playful and innocent in its speech, but its actions are malicious and dangerous.

Significant Themes

• Survival: The old man's primary goal is to survive the supernatural phenomenon, and he's willing to use the Child's Head despite its dangers.
• Manipulation: The Child's Head manipulates the old man, using its guidance to keep him dependent and fearful.
• Supernatural Entities: The chapter explores the nature of Malevolent Ghosts and their interactions with humans and other supernatural entities.

Character Interactions

• The old man and the Child's Head have a complex relationship. The old man is terrified of the head but relies on it for survival. The Child's Head, in turn, manipulates the old man, using its guidance to control him.
• The old man is also pursued by Malevolent Ghosts, which the Child's Head warns him about, further emphasizing the old man's precarious situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter begins at 4 AM in Black Mountain County, with the streets deserted and most people asleep.
• Old Jin, a middle-aged man with insomnia and neurasthenia, is awake and working a relatively easy job due to his son's status as an Awakener.
• Old Jin notices the absence of the Night Watchman's beat and the appearance of a Yin Yang Road (moonlit road with a clear boundary between light and dark) outside his window.
• He remembers a local legend about the Yin Yang Road and a worker who encountered something strange while walking on the dark side of the road.
• Old Jin tries to call his son but finds the power out and the phone not working.
• He sees something thrown out of a window in the opposite building and shatter on the street.

Character Developments

• Old Jin: He is a middle-aged man with health issues who relies on his son's influence for his job. He is superstitious and becomes uneasy when he sees the Yin Yang Road and the power outage.

Significant Themes

• Superstition and fear in the face of the unknown, especially after the Supernatural Revival.
• The importance of the Night Watchman's beat as a symbol of safety and normalcy.
• The impact of power outages and lack of communication on people's sense of security.

Character Interactions

• Old Jin's interaction with the Night Watchman is implied through his thoughts about the beat's absence.
• Old Jin's relationship with his son is mentioned, as his son's status as an Awakener has secured him an easier job.
• The story of the worker who encountered something strange on the Yin Yang Road is told through Old Jin's memories.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Jin finds a human torso thrown from the window of the building opposite his.
• He hears a voice identical to his deceased wife's, calling him from behind.
• The voice belongs to a ghost that looks exactly like his late wife, except for its pale and cold appearance.

Character Developments

• Old Jin: Initially confused and wary, he becomes terrified upon seeing the ghost but manages to maintain his composure, recalling his son's advice on dealing with supernatural events.
• The Ghost: Appears as Old Jin's deceased wife, mimicking her voice and appearance, displaying concern and confusion.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Events: The story explores the impact of supernatural occurrences on ordinary people, as seen through Old Jin's experience.
• Fear and Resilience: Old Jin's fear is palpable, but he also demonstrates resilience in trying to follow his son's advice to stay safe.
• The Role of Awakeners: The administrator's statements highlight the tension between Awakeners and ordinary people, suggesting a power dynamic that favors Awakeners.

Character Interactions

• Old Jin and the Ghost: The ghost interacts with Old Jin, mimicking his late wife's behavior, trying to engage him and evoke familiarity.
• Old Jin and His Son: Though not physically present, Old Jin's son influences his actions and thoughts, providing guidance on how to handle the supernatural event.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Old Jin wakes up to find his deceased wife in their home, who is actually a malevolent ghost playing a role-playing game.
• Old Jin tries to leave the house but is hindered by the ghost, who claims their son died in a car accident five years ago, which is impossible as the accident happened before the Supernatural Revival.
• Jiang Qiao, a supernatural hunter, explores the city, noting the deepening supernatural erosion and the presence of two different sets of killing rules, indicating two Weird Tales are active.

Character Developments

• Old Jin: Initially terrified, he tries to maintain composure and engage in conversation with the ghost to keep himself safe. He shows determination to escape the house.
• Jiang Qiao: He captures a Mountain Ghost and expresses surprise at the presence of powerful supernatural entities (Hidden Dragons and Crouching Phoenixes) in the small city.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural invasion and its impact on the city and its inhabitants.
• The theme of role-playing and maintaining a facade to ensure safety, as seen in Old Jin's interaction with the ghost.
• The presence of hidden power and danger, as represented by the Hidden Dragons and Crouching Phoenixes metaphor.

Character Interactions

• Old Jin interacts with the malevolent ghost, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy to avoid provoking it. He tries to leave the house, but the ghost insists on accompanying him.
• Jiang Qiao, though not directly interacting with other characters, expresses his thoughts on the supernatural situation in the city, setting the stage for his encounter with the Weird Tales.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao enters a residential building in Black Mountain County, feeling a faint sense of restraint from a Weird Tale's killing rules.
• He climbs up the building, observing the effects of the Weird Tale, including corpses with missing hearts or exploded brains, and residents unaffected by the supernatural presence.
• On the sixth floor, he encounters two bizarre, mutated humans (Malevolent Ghosts) and a walking corpse (a dead woman with rigor mortis but still moving).
• The woman tries to enter her neighbor's apartment, and upon the door opening, she touches the man's head, causing her to collapse.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his calm and analytical nature, observing the Weird Tale's effects without using his supernatural powers.
• The woman in the pink pajama set shows no signs of consciousness or control over her actions, acting like a zombie.
• The couple in the apartment shows initial bewilderment and suspicion but no fear, reflecting their resilience and caution due to living in a supernatural environment.

Significant Themes

• The theme of supernatural influence on ordinary people is explored, with the Weird Tale's killing rules affecting some residents but not others.
• The concept of Malevolent Ghosts, which can operate under the rules of a Weird Tale, is introduced.
• The theme of suspicion and vigilance among residents due to the supernatural environment is highlighted.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao observes the events but does not interact with the characters.
• The woman in the pink pajama set interacts with her neighbors, touching the man's head before collapsing.
• The couple in the apartment interacts with each other, expressing their bewilderment and suspicion about the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A female ghost initiates a supernatural attack on a man, but Jiang Qiao, using his new X-class Talent 'Fate Weaver', swaps their fates, causing the ghost to collapse and the man to remain unharmed.
• The man, now a male ghost, attacks his wife, who in turn raises the alarm, waking the neighbors.
• Jiang Qiao uses his 'Time Reversal' ability to make the three deceased individuals relive the scene.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his new Talent, 'Fate Weaver', and its unexpected consequences.
• The couple next door, initially oblivious to the supernatural events, become victims and then raise the alarm.

Significant Themes

• Fate Manipulation: Jiang Qiao explores the consequences of altering fate using his new Talent.
• Supernatural vs. Ordinary: The contrast between Jiang Qiao's supernatural abilities and the ordinary couple's vulnerability is highlighted.
• Consequences of Actions: Jiang Qiao's intervention has unforeseen consequences, leading to more deaths and supernatural occurrences.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao observes the events unfold without immediate intervention.
• The couple next door interacts with the male ghost, leading to their deaths.
• Jiang Qiao's use of 'Time Reversal' forces the three deceased individuals to interact again.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Time reverses to ten minutes prior, with the female ghost neighbor repeatedly trying to enter the couple's home.
• Jiang Qiao attempts to graft the husband's death fate onto the female ghost but fails as he hadn't carved out a piece of her original fate.
• He learns that fates must be carved out to be filled, like digging a hole in a road to fill it.
• The husband dies instantly after the female ghost slaps him, causing his wife to scream.
• Time reverses again, resetting the scene.
• Jiang Qiao cuts the husband's fate and attempts to transfer it without filling the gap, leaving a blank.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao gains deeper understanding of fate and its rules, becoming more excited about experimenting with its manipulation.
• The husband and wife remain unaware of the supernatural events unfolding around them.

Significant Themes

• The rules and limitations of fate manipulation.
• The consequences of leaving a blank in one's fate.
• The power and responsibility that comes with supernatural abilities.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the husband and wife indirectly through fate manipulation.
• The husband and wife interact with each other and the female ghost neighbor, unaware of the supernatural forces at play.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao conducts a forbidden experiment, grafting the Female Ghost's fate onto a corpse, creating a new "Female Ghost."
• The Old Man, leader of Black Mountain County, flees from supernatural beings, encountering various challenges and Malevolent Ghosts.
• The Old Man discovers a safe building unaffected by the supernatural influence, housing a powerful living person.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his knowledge and control over fate manipulation.
• The Old Man shows resilience and resourcefulness in evading supernatural threats, despite his Weirdness' limited strength.

Significant Themes

• The power and manipulation of fate.
• The struggle against supernatural forces and their influence on the environment and consciousness.
• The fear and consequences of provoking powerful supernatural entities.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the Female Ghost and the corpse, manipulating their fates.
• The Old Man interacts with his Weirdness, the child's head, which communicates with and influences Malevolent Ghosts, aiding his escape.
• The Old Man encounters other humans who seem unaffected by the supernatural, hinting at potential alliances or safe havens.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao discovers that the house owner is in a state of being both dead and alive due to a superimposed fate.
• He experiments with editing fate and finds that the house owner's life depends on his perception of being alive.
• Jiang Qiao realizes that Awakeners, upon doubting their state, could become possessed by Malevolent Ghosts and transform into new Malevolent Spirits.
• He also discovers that Tailors (like himself) experience side effects from holding segments of fate for too long.
• The Old Man, while fleeing from Ghosts, learns about Jiang Qiao's presence and decides to seek him out, guided by a ghost head.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: Becomes aware of the consequences and dangers of editing fate, particularly for Awakeners. Realizes he's developing a powerful, potentially taboo, ability.
• The Old Man: Becomes increasingly desperate and anxious as he's pursued by Ghosts. Seeks out Jiang Qiao, believing he might be the cause of his current predicament.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of manipulating fate.
• The blurred line between life and death, and the consequences of playing with this boundary.
• The potential for Awakeners to become Malevolent Spirits upon losing their sense of self.
• The price of using supernatural powers and the risks involved.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the house owner, observing and experimenting on him.
• The Old Man interacts with the ghost head, seeking its guidance and trying to understand the situation he's in.
• Jiang Qiao and the Old Man are set to interact, with the Old Man seeking him out, potentially leading to conflict or alliance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao uses the Fate Weaver to rewind time and eliminate a female ghost haunting a couple.
• He investigates a building where some residents are dead, while others are unharmed, finding strange occurrences on the ninth floor.
• A voice resembling the inn boss from Bin City calls out to Jiang Qiao.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao demonstrates his power and calm demeanor in the face of supernatural events.
• The voice, impersonating the inn boss, shows adaptability and cunning by mimicking a familiar figure to engage Jiang Qiao.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural's influence on the living and the dead.
• The power dynamics between Jiang Qiao and the Malevolent Spirits.
• The theme of memory and identity, as Jiang Qiao questions the authenticity of the voice.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao interacts with the voice, initially ignoring it but eventually engaging in a cold exchange.
• The voice, impersonating the inn boss, tries to engage Jiang Qiao, expressing fear and anxiety, but Jiang Qiao remains aloof and suspicious.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Qiao encounters a fake Inn Boss who is actually a Malevolent Ghost (Weird Tale).
• The Weird Tale knows details about Bin City's destruction, suggesting a connection between Weird Tales.
• Jiang Qiao and the Weird Tale reach the 21st floor of the building, where they find numerous black mirrors in each room.
• The Weird Tale shares a story about a taxi driver encountering a series of identical buses, hinting at supernatural events.

Character Developments

• Jiang Qiao: Shows curiosity and caution when dealing with the Weird Tale. He activates his Dual Pupils to confirm the Weird Tale's identity. He remains calm and collected, displaying his intelligence and bravery.
• The Weird Tale (Fake Inn Boss): Maintains a facade of normalcy, mimicking human behavior and speech. It reveals information about its kind's connection and database-like knowledge.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Truth: The Weird Tale deceives Jiang Qiao, but he sees through the deception using his Dual Pupils. The story also explores the theme of truth being hidden behind appearances (the Weird Tale's true identity and the mirrors' purpose).
• Supernatural Connection: The Weird Tale's knowledge of Bin City's destruction suggests a connection between Weird Tales across different locations. This hints at a larger, unknown supernatural network.
• The Unknown: The story explores the unknown, both in terms of the Weird Tales' connection and the mirrors' purpose on the 21st floor. This theme is also reflected in the taxi driver's encounter with the mysterious buses.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Qiao and the Weird Tale (Fake Inn Boss): Jiang Qiao is aware of the Weird Tale's true identity but plays along, asking questions to gather information. The Weird Tale, unaware of Jiang Qiao's knowledge, provides information while trying to mislead him.
• The Weird Tale and the taxi driver (through the story shared): The Weird Tale uses the taxi driver's story to warn Jiang Qiao about the dangers of exploring the unknown. However, Jiang Qiao remains undeterred.