Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban and Qin Tiantian coincidentally meet at a street food stall near Jiangcheng University.
• Qin Tiantian shares a rumor about Nanhua Hospital being haunted, with construction workers experiencing paranormal events.
• Lu Ban watches a live stream of an adventure vlogger exploring Nanhua Hospital, where the vlogger encounters a ghostly child.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban: Shows indifference to urban legends and paranormal events, prioritizing his studies over investigating the haunted hospital.
• Qin Tiantian: Displaying curiosity and a sense of adventure, she encourages Lu Ban to explore the haunted hospital but also fears the unknown.

Significant Themes

• Curiosity vs. Caution: Qin Tiantian's curiosity drives her to seek out the supernatural, while Lu Ban's caution makes him wary of delving into the unknown.
• The Power of Rumors: The rumors about Nanhua Hospital's haunting attract both Qin Tiantian's interest and the adventure vlogger's live stream audience.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban and Qin Tiantian's interaction is marked by their differing attitudes towards the supernatural, with Qin Tiantian trying to persuade Lu Ban to explore the haunted hospital, and Lu Ban advising caution.
• The adventure vlogger's encounter with the ghostly child in the elevator serves as a cautionary tale for those who seek out the paranormal without proper understanding or protection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban completes the rough cut of his film and finds it watchable but needing refinement.
• He decides to work on the background music and theme song before finalizing the film.
• Lu Ban meets with Hammer, an independent musician, to discuss the scoring for his film.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban: Shows dedication to his filmmaking, seeking professional help for the music.
• Hammer: Demonstrates professionalism and enthusiasm for his work, showing immediate inspiration from Lu Ban's film.

Significant Themes

• The power of visual storytelling: Lu Ban's film evokes strong emotional responses and inspiration in Hammer without dialogue.
• The collaborative nature of filmmaking: Lu Ban seeks external expertise to enhance his film.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban and Hammer: They meet for the first time, with Hammer showing respect for Lu Ban's work and Lu Ban being somewhat perplexed by Hammer's reaction to his film.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban watches his movie with music producer Hammer.
• The movie follows Lu Ban's experiences, including meeting Momiji and investigating a missing painter.
• Hammer reacts strongly to certain scenes, feeling physically affected by the movie's atmosphere and imagery.
• Hammer experiences intense fear and panic during specific scenes, particularly when encountering a miko (shrine maiden) and during the [Hyakunin Isshu] game sequence.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban: Shows concern for Hammer's reaction to the movie, hinting at his awareness of its unique impact.
• Hammer: Initially skeptical, Hammer becomes deeply immersed and emotionally affected by the movie, experiencing fear, panic, and physical reactions.

Significant Themes

• The power of cinema and storytelling to evoke strong emotional and physical responses.
• The exploration of fear, tension, and release in a horror narrative.
• The influence of personal experiences and memories on an audience's reaction to a film.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban and Hammer: Lu Ban observes Hammer's reactions, while Hammer is deeply engrossed in the movie, leading to a shared intense experience.
• Hammer and the Movie: Hammer's interactions with the movie are marked by his growing immersion, fear, and eventual need for a break.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hammer watches Lu Ban's film and is deeply moved by its immersive experience.
• The film's ending leaves Hammer with many questions about its reality and the protagonist's survival.
• Hammer decides to compose the score for Lu Ban's film after being deeply impacted by its immersion.
• Lu Ban and Hammer collaborate on the film's score, with Hammer creating various melodies to enhance the film's atmosphere.
• Lu Ban refines the film's rough cut and integrates the new score, completing a sample film ready for submission to video websites.

Character Developments

• Hammer: Realizes the potential of Lu Ban's film and becomes determined to compose its score, showing his ambition and passion for creating timeless music.
• Lu Ban: Continues refining his film and collaborates with Hammer on the score, demonstrating his dedication to his work and openness to creative input.

Significant Themes

• Immersion and emotional impact in filmmaking.
• The importance of music in enhancing a film's atmosphere and storytelling.
• Collaboration and creative input in film production.

Character Interactions

• Hammer and Lu Ban: Collaborate on the film's score, with Hammer providing musical ideas and Lu Ban guiding the process based on his vision for the film. Their interaction showcases a productive and respectful working relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban decides on an all-platform release for his movie "Hyakunin Isshu" due to its extraordinary power shown in the preview.
• He contacts operations managers from several video streaming sites, declining guaranteed exclusive broadcasting deals.
• The movie is released on the Mid-Autumn Festival, with Old Days Video Network showing immediate support.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban demonstrates confidence in his work and is not swayed by potential financial gains, focusing on reaching more viewers.
• Operations managers from video streaming sites are portrayed as cautious about offering high guarantees for movies.

Significant Themes

• The importance of reaching a wider audience versus exclusive broadcasting deals.
• The value of one's work and confidence in its quality.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with operations managers from video streaming sites via WeChat, discussing release strategies and guarantees.
• Lu Ban's audience eagerly awaits the release of his movie, engaging in discussions on the platform.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Duzhong, a university student, returns home for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• He watches an interactive movie, "Hyakunin Isshu," on a video platform.
• The movie begins with a terrifying scene of a giant monster underwater, triggering Xu Duzhong's fear of large creatures (megalophobia).
• The movie then shifts to a suspenseful plot on an island, with Xu Duzhong becoming interested in the female lead, Momiji.

Character Developments

• Xu Duzhong: Initially portrayed as a typical teenage boy, interested in games and pretty girls. He shows fear during the monster scene and curiosity about the movie's lead actress.
• Lu Ban (movie protagonist): Not much is revealed about him, but he shows bravery and determination in the face of danger.
• Momiji (female lead): Described as pure, cute, and aloof, she captures Xu Duzhong's and other viewers' attention.

Significant Themes

• Fear and anxiety (triggered by the monster scene)
• Infatuation and attraction (towards Momiji)
• The power of suspense and storytelling in cinema

Character Interactions

• Xu Duzhong interacts with his mother, who nagged him about studying and finding a girlfriend.
• Xu Duzhong engages with the online community watching the same movie, sharing his reactions and discussing the movie's elements.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Du Zhong watches a mysterious movie that immerses him with realistic smells and sounds.
• The movie features a festival, a creepy miko, and a game of Hyakunin Isshu with disturbing consequences.
• Xu Du Zhong experiences a chilling scene where he feels possessed and unable to look away.

Character Developments

• Xu Du Zhong: Realizes the movie's realism and becomes increasingly unsettled by the events unfolding on screen.
• Lu Ban and Momiji: Continue their investigation on the island, encountering strange phenomena and supernatural entities.

Significant Themes

• The power of suggestion and immersion in media.
• The blurring line between reality and fiction.
• The exploration of the supernatural and the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Xu Du Zhong interacts with the movie's characters through his reactions to the events on screen.
• The online community watching the movie with Xu Du Zhong shares their experiences and reactions in real-time through bullet comments.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Duzhong watches a horror movie, "Hyakunin Isshu," which evokes a unique, unsettling terror in him.
• The movie's climax reveals Momiji's tragic past and her eventual destruction, leaving Xu Duzhong deeply moved.
• The film ends with Lu Ban and the painter adrift on a boat, leaving the fate of the island uncertain.

Character Developments

• Xu Duzhong: Becomes increasingly invested in the movie's story and characters, feeling empathy and sorrow for Momiji.
• Momiji: Her backstory is revealed, showing her as a tragic, protective figure who ultimately sacrifices herself.

Significant Themes

• The power of art to evoke deep emotions and resonate with viewers.
• The exploration of fear and its connection to deep-seated anxieties.
• The tragedy of a beautiful thing being shattered (Momiji's story).

Character Interactions

• Xu Duzhong interacts with the movie's characters, particularly Momiji, feeling a strong connection to her.
• The movie's characters (Momiji, Lu Ban, the painter) interact within the film's narrative, driving the plot forward.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban checks backend data of various video networks during the Mid-Autumn Festival, revealing different click and effective click patterns.
• Tomorrow Online, despite high traffic, has very few paying users due to its price-sensitive audience.
• Lu Ban is content with his initial earnings and aims for a "Mediocre" rating.
• Lu Ban is disturbed in his sleep by an unknown entity, which he can't identify among his usual ghostly housemates.
• He changes his playlist to eerie music and sleeps peacefully.
• The next day, Lu Ban finds his work ranked fourth among original films and TV series on the Old Days Video Network.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban shows contentment with his earnings and remains calm and curious when disturbed by an unknown entity.
• He demonstrates understanding and control over his ghostly housemates.

Significant Themes

• Transparency and Control: Lu Ban's ability to directly access backend data represents transparency and control over his earnings, contrasting with the past lack of transparency.
• Contentment vs. Ambition: Lu Ban is content with his earnings but also has ambitions to achieve a "Mediocre" rating.
• The Unknown: Lu Ban's encounter with an unknown entity explores themes of the unknown and the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with his ghostly housemates, trying to identify the one that disturbed his sleep.
• He communicates with his Air Friend, though it's unclear if there's a response.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban, a film director, reads comments on a social media post inviting him to discuss his latest film, "Hyakunin Isshu."
• He notices positive reviews, with viewers appreciating the film's special effects and atmospheric construction.
• An actor criticizes Lu Ban's acting in the film, suggesting he should improve his skills.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban reflects on his acting skills and decides to study acting more seriously.
• An anonymous fan expresses deep admiration for the actress Momiji, comparing themselves to a cat or dog.

Significant Themes

• The impact of special effects and atmosphere in film.
• The importance of acting skills for a director.
• The influence of films on reality and viewers' experiences.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with various commenters, appreciating their insights and responding to them.
• A fan's emotional outpouring for Momiji is acknowledged by Lu Ban, who promises to convey their feelings to her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban discovers a viral video of a group playing a game called "Hyakunin Isshu," which is similar to the one he played on Song Island.
• The video shows an extra person appearing in the room, defying the game's rules, and causing a stir among viewers.
• Lu Ban realizes the game's true nature and the potential danger it poses, so he edits the film and warns viewers not to attempt the game.
• Despite Lu Ban's warnings, viewers dismiss the risks and continue discussing and attempting the game, leading to increased viewership of the film.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban demonstrates his understanding of the game's supernatural aspects and his concern for potential consequences, showing his responsible side.
• The video uploader is revealed to be a prankster, manipulating the game to scare viewers.
• Viewers are shown to be skeptical, dismissive, or curious about the game's true nature, with some even attempting it despite warnings.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between reality and the supernatural.
• The power of collective belief and disbelief in extraordinary events.
• The responsibility of creators and influencers in warning about potential dangers.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with the video uploader indirectly through his comments and edits, trying to prevent further attempts at the game.
• Viewers interact with each other through comments, discussing their beliefs, experiences, and skepticism about the game.
• Lu Ban's actions inadvertently lead to increased viewership and discussion of the film, highlighting the unpredictable nature of audience reactions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban wakes up to find a dense black mist on his chest, which disappears when he touches it.
• He checks his earnings, realizing he's close to his one million yuan goal.
• Lu Ban studies acting methods and decides to follow the method school.
• He receives a message from Feng Yu, who can't meet up during the National Day holiday.
• The system announces Lu Ban has completed his career development task, earning one million yuan, but the task completion is rated 'mediocre'.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban shows determination to improve his acting skills, choosing the method school.
• He reflects on his upright principles and their impact on his Silence Points.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between freedom and responsibility, as Lu Ban finds that gaining freedom from his job also brings new pressures.
• The importance of personal principles and integrity, as Lu Ban refuses to compromise his values for Silence Points.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with the Air Friend in his apartment.
• He exchanges messages with Feng Yu, who can't meet up due to work commitments.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban unlocks the next stage of the shop, requiring 500,000 points.
• He browses the new items in the shop, which are more powerful and expensive than before.
• Notable items include: "Minor Miracle" (a high-level spell with unpredictable consequences), "False Name" (a name that can change one's identity), "Hyakunin Isshu" (a summoning ritual targeting a Great Being), "He Ming's Handbook" (a collection of forbidden knowledge), and "Worm Brain" (a Wasteland Worm's head that can sense others of its kind).
• Lu Ban finds an upgraded version of the suona he previously owned, now called "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."

Character Developments

• Lu Ban's understanding of the shop's progression and the power of its items deepens.
• He realizes that higher-level shops unlock higher-quality goods, with contamination quality being the next tier after excellent quality.

Significant Themes

• The power of knowledge and its potential dangers (as seen in "He Ming's Handbook").
• The unpredictability of miracles and their consequences (as seen in "Minor Miracle").
• The duality of tradition and change (as seen in the upgraded suona's description).

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with the shop's interface, browsing and considering the new items.
• There are no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban discovers expensive breakthrough materials in the shop, including [Sigh of the Unfixed Mist], [Merciful Statue of the Black Mother], and [Saint's Remains].
• He realizes he can't afford anything in the shop and decides to check the system's mission selection interface.
• The mission this time is set in Lu Ban's own room, with three exits leading to different otherworldly realms: a graveyard, a forest (Sea of Trees), and a hospital corridor.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban shows frustration and helplessness at the high cost of items in the shop, leading him to consider his spending habits.
• He demonstrates curiosity and caution when exploring the new mission environments, indicating his growing experience and wariness.

Significant Themes

• The theme of wealth and its influence on power and ability is explored through Lu Ban's inability to afford certain items.
• The mission environments hint at themes of death, despair, and the unknown, suggesting a deeper exploration of the world's horrors.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with the system's mission selection interface, which presents the mission environments and descriptions in a unique, eerie manner.
• He doesn't encounter any other characters in this chapter, but the mission environments hint at the presence of other entities, such as the baby's cries in the hospital corridor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nanhua Private Renji Hospital, once a leading private hospital, has fallen into disrepair and bankruptcy due to financial disputes and the development of public hospitals.
• The hospital is now surrounded by dilapidated buildings and a seemingly abandoned shopping mall, with only a nearby garbage recycling station operating normally.
• Lu Ban recalls a previous exploration live stream where he saw an eerie entity in the hospital's elevator mirror, leading him to believe that this world is one of the five realms of the Silent Land, where eerie entities might hide.
• Lu Ban decides to conduct his mission at the hospital and contacts Song Yunyan, who has purchased the hospital's land for construction, to propose a deal: she provides him with resources, and he will help eliminate the threat in the hospital.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban demonstrates his determination to face the threats in the hospital and his strategic thinking in proposing a deal with Song Yunyan.
• Song Yunyan shows her willingness to support Lu Ban's efforts to deal with the strange occurrences at the hospital, indicating her trust in his abilities and her desire to protect the citizens.

Significant Themes

• The decline of once-thriving institutions (Nanhua Private Renji Hospital)
• The coexistence of the mundane and the supernatural in the city
• The necessity of facing and dealing with threats to maintain public safety

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban and Song Yunyan interact over the phone, with Lu Ban proposing a deal and Song Yunyan agreeing to support him, demonstrating their mutual respect and trust.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Demolition of Nanhua Private Renji Hospital begins with initial planning and surveying (March 2nd).
• Construction team encounters issues like building instability, water leakage, and unexpected archives (March 7th).
• Demolition progresses with challenges like worker accidents and mysterious occurrences (March 20th to April 13th).
• Strange incidents increase, including a missing child, unexplained activities, and erosion patterns in pillars (April 5th to May 1st).
• Demolition of the auxiliary building is delayed due to accidents and mysterious sightings (May 22nd).
• The main building proves to be the most troublesome, with elevator accidents and worker injuries (June 6th).
• Construction is suspended after two workers die and one is injured, with Liu Qingjiang, the head, going missing (June 15th).

Character Developments

• Wang Yuan: Initial reporter, later replaced by Liu Qingjiang.
• Liu Qingjiang: Demolition team leader, becomes increasingly concerned about strange occurrences and worker safety.
• Workers: Face various challenges and accidents, leading to casualties and injuries.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Elements: Strange occurrences, mysterious sightings, and unexplained phenomena hint at supernatural forces.
• Worker Safety: The primary concern throughout the demolition, with accidents and casualties raising questions about safety measures.
• The Hospital's Past: Mention of past wrongdoings and secrets hidden within the hospital.

Character Interactions

• Wang Yuan and Liu Qingjiang: Both serve as reporters, with Liu Qingjiang taking over after Wang Yuan's death. They interact through their reports, sharing updates and concerns about the demolition progress.
• Workers: Interact through their shared experiences, facing challenges and accidents together.
• Liu Qingjiang and the workers: Liu Qingjiang tries to maintain safety and order, while workers express their concerns and fears about the strange occurrences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban receives a mission with a 30-day deadline to enter Nanhua Private Renji Hospital and survive until the next day. He also needs to find Du Danping's melody fragment within the hospital.
• Lu Ban spends two weeks researching the hospital's records, finding them mostly normal but with a few intriguing details.
• He discovers two peculiar duty logs from nurses, one from 2005 and one from 2009, describing strange occurrences in the hospital.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban shows dedication and thoroughness in his research, spending two weeks going through the hospital's records.
• He demonstrates curiosity and analytical skills in investigating the strange duty logs.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and change, as seen in the hospital's evolution from a foreigner-only hospital to one that serves locals.
• The power of life and death, hinted at in the mysterious room at the end of the corridor.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with the hospital's past through the duty logs, connecting with the nurses who wrote them.
• He also interacts with his old squad leader, Song Yunyan, who provided him with the hospital's records.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter is set in a hospital around the Lunar New Year, with fewer patients due to the holiday.
• Wang Ping, a nurse, is on night duty with Xu Xiao, a younger colleague.
• Xu Xiao suddenly wakes Wang Ping up and takes her to the elevator, acting strangely.
• In the elevator mirror, Wang Ping sees that Xu Xiao is not reflected, and Xu Xiao is walking on her tiptoes.
• Xu Xiao leads Wang Ping to the fifth floor, where she disappears into a ward, and Wang Ping can't call out to her.
• The next day, Xu Xiao is missing, and Wang Ping leaves the hospital soon after.
• Lu Ban, an investigator, finds Wang Ping's duty log and other similar entries, all pointing to the fifth floor and a mysterious room.
• Lu Ban discovers that the security guards at the construction site are not the same as those who apprehended a streamer, and the construction team has encountered unknown resistances.
• Lu Ban decides to enter the hospital, seeing a girl staring at him from the fifth floor.

Character Developments

• Wang Ping: Initially portrayed as a normal nurse, she experiences a supernatural event that traumatizes her, leading her to leave the hospital.
• Xu Xiao: Initially a lively colleague, she suddenly behaves strangely, leading Wang Ping to believe she has become a ghost.
• Lu Ban: A determined investigator who connects the dots between the duty logs and decides to enter the hospital to investigate.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences and the unknown.
• The power of the fifth floor and the mysterious room.
• The possible transformation of disappeared people into monsters or inhuman beings.

Character Interactions

• Wang Ping and Xu Xiao: Their interaction in the elevator and on the fifth floor is the core event of the chapter.
• Lu Ban and the security guards: Lu Ban interacts with the security guards to gain entry into the hospital.
• Lu Ban and the girl on the fifth floor: The girl's stare at Lu Ban as he enters the hospital is an ominous interaction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ban enters Nanhua Private Renji Hospital, finding it in disarray with explosives in the lobby.
• He discovers an elevator with a mirror that reflects his image and seems to show supernatural beings.
• Lu Ban finds a nurses' station with a red notebook containing sporadic duty logs, which start writing themselves when he opens it.

Character Developments

• Lu Ban demonstrates his resourcefulness and bravery, facing the strange occurrences in the hospital without fear.
• The former dean, Zhao Gongping, is introduced through a poster, adding a historical figure to the narrative.

Significant Themes

• The theme of truth and falsehood is introduced through the mirror in the elevator, reflecting Lu Ban's good nature but potentially showing supernatural beings.
• The theme of the unknown and the uncanny is explored as Lu Ban encounters strange occurrences in the hospital.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ban interacts with his reflection in the elevator mirror, showing his self-awareness and calm demeanor.
• He also interacts with the poster of Zhao Gongping, though it's a one-sided interaction, adding a sense of being watched.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces a new nurse, Xu Xiao, on her first night shift at a hospital with a dark past.
• Xu Xiao encounters mysterious footprints and a strange presence on the fifth floor, leading her to a room at the end of the corridor.
• She finds something terrifying in the room and flees, only to find the entire floor deserted when she returns with her senior, Sister Wang Ping.
• Xu Xiao's record ends abruptly, and Lu Ban, the reader, finds himself in the nurses' station, with Xu Xiao's memo in front of him.

Character Developments

• Xu Xiao: Initially skeptical about the hospital's rumors, Xu Xiao becomes increasingly frightened and desperate as she encounters unexplained phenomena.
• Sister Wang Ping: Initially portrayed as a senior nurse who sleeps on duty, she becomes more active and concerned when Xu Xiao tells her about the strange events.
• Sister He (He Bixiong): Mentioned as a senior nurse with a history of strange incidents, she warns Xu Xiao about the room at the end of the corridor.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural/Paranormal: The chapter explores the theme of unexplained phenomena and a possible haunting in the hospital.
• Fear and Desperation: Xu Xiao's fear grows throughout the chapter, culminating in desperation as she tries to find help.
• Secrets and the Unknown: The hospital's dark past and the mysterious room at the end of the corridor represent the unknown, which Xu Xiao and Lu Ban are drawn to uncover.

Character Interactions

• Xu Xiao and Sister Wang Ping: Initially distant, their relationship becomes more collaborative as they face the strange events together.
• Xu Xiao and Sister He: Xu Xiao receives crucial warnings from Sister He about the hospital's past and the room at the end of the corridor.
• Lu Ban and Xu Xiao's Memo: Lu Ban interacts with Xu Xiao's memo, piecing together her story and experiencing her fear vicariously.